The National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Safaricom’s DigiFarm Kenya Ltd to facilitate small-scale farmers in Kenya access post-harvest management services through the digital platform.
NCPB shall offer post-harvest management services to farmers registered on the platform, while DigiFarm will connect NCPB to small-scale farmers, who will in turn, access NCPB services at prevailing rates.
Managing Director of NCPB, Joseph Kimote said the MoU is aligned to the agriculture hub model that NCPB is required to establish under the Reforms.
“The hub shall provide a one-stop shop for farmers to obtain farm inputs, farm machinery services, information on crop and animal husbandry and quality management services among other services,” he added.
The MD noted that the partnership will support the small-scale farmer in improving crop productivity, leading to better incomes as well as support the country in achieving the goals of the Food and Nutrition Security Pillar of the Big Four Agenda.
“This MoU defines the areas of cooperation in the provision of services including product aggregation and warehousing, quality management, inventory management and control, market facilitation, extension support and farm inputs distribution.
Peter Ndegwa, CEO, Safaricom said that through the Digifarm platform, they want to empower smallholder farmers across the country by giving them direct access to low-cost quality seeds and fertilizer, credit providers, mechanization services and bulk purchasers of their produce.
“Our partnership with NCPB will provide farmers with post-harvest management services as well as access to market which will enable them sell quality produce at competitive prices,” he added.
DigiFarm is an integrated mobile platform developed by Safaricom that offers farmers a convenient one-stop access to quality farm inputs, input loans, advisory services, market linkages, and crop insurance.
Since its launch DigiFarm has registered 1.3 million farmers on its platform who have benefitted from the services and products provided.
By Wangari Ndirangu
