NCPB, Safaricom strike deal to make small farms more profitable
The National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) has inked a deal with Safaricom’s DigiFarm Kenya Ltd to facilitate small-scale farmers in Kenya access post-harvest management services digitally.
NCPB will therefore offer post-harvest management services to farmers registered on the platform, while DigiFarm will connect the cereals board with small-scale farmers, who will in turn, access NCPB services at prevailing rates.
Managing Director of NCPB, Mr Joseph Kimote said the MoU is aligned to the agriculture hub model that NCPB is required to establish under the reforms package.
“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,” Mr Kimote added.
The partnership will also support small-scale farmers 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.
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This deal 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.
Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa said that through the Digifarm platform, they will 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 the market which will enable them to sell quality produce at competitive prices,” Mr Ndegwa 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.
With an aim of making the smallholder farmer wealthier from their land, by addressing challenges that face growers, the platform has registered 1.3 million farmers who have benefitted from the services and products provided since its launch.
