50,000 small scale farmers and 50 farmer cooperatives are to be trained how to use digital tools to help them market their agricultural produce.

The farmers in addition to 50 cooperatives will come from Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire.

Through the training program, an initiative of the Miccrosfts4Afrika initiative and the International Finance Cooperation (IFC) will also help farmers access digital tools needed in marketing.

IFC with partners in participating countries will help in the selection of farmers and farmer cooperatives to pilot the training sessions.

The initiative that was launched on Tuesday, August 03 in Nairobi is aimed at supporting digital transformation in Africa’s agribusiness sector. 

It will also modernize supply chains and boost farmer’s productivity and incomes. 

To kick start the project, a mobile platform will be piloted among the selected farmers in Kenya, Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire Uganda.

Why the initiative?

The initiative was formed on the fact that although digital technology can improve the operation of key supply chains in the food system, the use of digital tools in Africa’s agriculture sector remains limited.

“We need to pay close attention to how agri-tech organizations transform digitally, by understanding their challenges especially digital skills development,” said Kendi Nderitu, the country manager for Microsoft Kenya.

He added that the partnership will leverage Microsoft 4Afrika’s unique digital platforms and IFC’s Agribusiness Leadership Program to help small-scale farmers, their cooperatives, and “last mile retailers” access information and digital tools to strengthen farming practices.

The 2021 Global Report on Food Crises report indicates that around 155 million people suffered from acute food insecurity in 2020 across 55 countries, an increase of around 20 million people from 2019. 

Of the 10 countries with the highest number of people facing food insecurity, six were in Africa.

“Therefore, digital technology is one of the ways that will boost agricultural production and efficiencies," he added.

Nderitu explained further that the partnership will include Microsoft’s KuzaBot mobile chat platform, which will speed and ease the dissemination of information to farmers on the available markets including other services like good agricultural and business practices.

“In the long run, the partnership aims at deepening the understanding of factors that drive the adoption and use of digital solutions among smallholder farmers, farmer cooperatives, and other actors in the agriculture supply chain,” said Nderitu.

Samuel Dzotefe, the acting Regional Industry Director, Manufacturing, Agribusiness and Services, Middle East & Africa said that digital technologies have the power to transform small-scale farming in Africa.

“By making digital tools more accessible to farmers, cooperatives and last-mile retailers, Microsoft and IFC can together help the agribusiness sector to capitalize on the opportunities afforded by the digital economy,” he added.