Solidaridad Southern Africa is proud to announce its participation at the Africa Food Systems Forum (AGRF) 2024, which took place in Kigali, Rwanda from 4-6 September 2024. During this prestigious event, Solidaridad used the opportunity to shed light on “Building Resilience in Agri-system Investments” as means of exploring the transformative role of youth-led digital solutions in Southern Africa’s agricultural landscape.
“It is time to unpack how bundled services, such as soil testing, weather data, insurance, and financial products, delivered through digital platforms, are improving access to essential services for smallholder farmers. This model provides a scalable and efficient approach to strengthening agricultural systems, making these services more affordable and accessible.
Solidaridad aims to demonstrate the potential of digital platforms to revolutionize agriculture across Africa,” says Shungu Kanyemba, Managing Director for Solidaridad Southern Africa while speaking to media at the Kigali International Convention Centre in Rwanda, to emphasize the importance of digital solutions in fostering agricultural resilience.
According to Kanyemba, Solidaridad believes that the future of African agriculture lies in leveraging innovative digital tools. He continues that the mission is to empower smallholder farmers with the resources and services they need to enhance their productivity and incomes while ensuring that these solutions are sustainable and inclusive.
He alleges that by prioritizing youth and women, it is possible to accelerate progress toward a food-secure future.
The message being shared by Solidaridad at the AGRF 2024 is on the power of digital innovations in enhancing agriculture service provision for smallholder farmers.
This is done through showcasing the success of Solidaridad’s bundled services model in enhancing the productivity and resilience of smallholder farmers.
This approach aligns with Solidaridad’s theory of change, which focuses on creating sustainable supply chains that are prosperous, inclusive, and in balance with nature.
The bundled service model facilitates partnerships between farmers, businesses, and governments, fostering a supportive business ecosystem that drives progress in African agriculture.
Digital platforms can deliver affordable services to farmers. We must highlight the scalability and efficiency of bundled services for farmers and service providers. Data-driven digital tools can support better monitoring and decision-making.
“Digital tools not only streamline access to essential services but also enable better data collection and monitoring. This empowers African countries to track agricultural progress and make informed decisions for policy development. We are proud to contribute to innovations that are making a tangible difference in the lives of farmers across the continent,” concludes Candice Kroutz-Kabongo, Digital Innovations Lead for Solidaridad.
