Bridging Agri-Tech Solutions with Farmer Needs

Empowering Farmers Through Digital Innovation and Regenerative Agriculture: Solidaridad’s Transformative Impact in India!! During a recent visit to Solidaridad Network’s Smart Agri Hub in Bhopal, I witnessed firsthand the remarkable strides being made to revolutionize agriculture across 12 Indian states. By bridging the digital divide, Solidaridad is empowering over a million farmers with contextual, personalized advisories that address their unique challenges. From real-time hyper-local weather forecasts and pest infestation alerts to tailored agronomic advice, this initiative is equipping farmers with tools to make informed decisions, boost productivity, and mitigate risks in an unpredictable climate. The Smart Agri Hub exemplifies innovation in action. By leveraging mobile platforms and IoT-enabled solutions, farmers receive timely insights—like adjusting irrigation before a drought or treating crops ahead of pest outbreaks—transforming reactive practices into proactive strategies. This digital ecosystem not only safeguards livelihoods but also fosters resilience, enabling smallholders to thrive amid climate volatility. The visit also included the Nico Roozen International Center of Excellence for Regenerative Agriculture, a hub pioneering sustainable farming practices. Here, research and on-ground training converge to promote soil health, biodiversity, and low-carbon techniques, ensuring agriculture remains viable for future generations. None of this would be possible without the visionary leadership of Dr.Suresh Motwani and his dedicated team, whose passion for farmer welfare and environmental stewardship is palpable. Their holistic approach—merging technology, education, and ecology—is setting a global benchmark for inclusive, regenerative agriculture. As India’s farmers face mounting challenges, Solidaridad’s work offers a blueprint for empowerment through innovation. It’s inspiring to see how digital tools and sustainable practices can uplift communities, turning vulnerability into vitality. The future of farming is bright—and it’s being cultivated in Bhopal today.

Forget Unicorns, Look Who's Quietly Revolutionising Agriculture Forget million-dollar funding rounds and flashy apps. True innovation can emerge from anywhere, even from fields far removed from the tech hub. Today, we celebrate Dehaat, an Indian agritech startup quietly transforming the lives of millions. From Humble Beginnings to Empowering Millions Founded in 2011 by IIT alumni, they witnessed the struggles of smallholder farmers firsthand. Lack of access to quality supplies, fair prices, and crucial information crippled their livelihoods. Dehaat's solution? A mobile platform connecting farmers directly to agri-businesses, cutting out exploitative middlemen. The Impact: More Than Just Profits Dehaat's success is measured not just in revenue (which is impressive at over 5 million farmers served), but in empowered communities. Farmers receive high-quality inputs, market data, and crop advisory services, leading to increased yields, higher incomes, and greater control over their futures. Lessons for All Entrepreneurs Dehaat's journey offers valuable insights: Focus on Real Problems: Innovation thrives on solving genuine needs. Dehaat addressed a critical gap in the agricultural supply chain, empowering a marginalized community. Think Local, Act Global: Technology can bridge local challenges. Dehaat's mobile platform tackles a deeply local issue while demonstrating the power of tech for rural development. Build Trust, Build Success: Dehaat understands the importance of trust with farmers. Their direct approach fosters long-term partnerships and empowers them to take charge. Dehaat's story is a powerful reminder that innovation starts with empathy and a deep understanding of the problem. Who inspires you with their impactful business stories? Share your thoughts below! #agritech #startupindia #shripalgandhi

Glad to have an op-ed on IFC - International Finance Corporation’s work on Agtechs published in South Africa’s The Star newspaper today.   In it, I explore how partnerships between AgTech firms and financial institutions can transform African agriculture which is dominated by smallholder farmers.   In Morocco, we’re working with SOWIT | AgriTech and AgriFinance and Alamana Microfinance Maroc to equip wheat farmers with better data and access to credit. The result? Higher yields, better prices, and nearly doubled incomes. In Nigeria, we are working with Babban Gona and Sterling Bank to scale Babban Gona's reach. Similar projects are underway in Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, and Ethiopia. All have promising early results.   These partnerships show what’s possible when we connect digital innovation with financial inclusion across the agriculture value chain.   This is about more than farming and technology. It’s about unlocking economic opportunity and creating jobs not just in farming communities but across countries and borders, while building resilience to shocks and supporting macroeconomic stability.   Africa holds a quarter of the world’s arable land yet produces just 10% of global output. We can change that.   By increasing access to credit to farmers, aligning lending with planting cycles, and giving farmers the tools to succeed, we’re helping shape a more secure, more productive future for Africa and all who live here.   #agtech #jobs #foodsecurity #IFC #Africa   https://lnkd.in/eynM-Emk  

I believe AI is going to be the future of our daily life, especially in agriculture. Farmers are now using AI to understand soil health, get crop recommendations, receive real-time weather alerts, track market prices, and even detect pests and diseases before they spread. AI is turning farming from guesswork into smart work. After learning how developed countries are integrating AI into every corner of its economy, including agriculture, I truly believe Africa must act now to embrace this wave. In USA 🇺🇸 , I saw how farmers are using smart sensors in their fields to track moisture and nutrients. Drones fly above corns, collecting data on plant growth. Applications powered by AI offer immediate suggestions on when to plant, what to plant, and how to increase yield while protecting the environment. These are not future ideas. They are already happening today. The technology is available, and it is working. As I walked away from the fields , I kept thinking about Africa, where seventy percent of our people depend on agriculture, and yet many are still farming as if it were the 1980s. This is not because our farmers are lazy or unaware. It is because access to tools, data, and training is limited. Many farmers have never used a smartphone. Some areas still do not have reliable electricity or internet. Africa is a young continent, full of brilliant minds, growing technology ecosystems, and youth-led innovations in agriculture. If we invest wisely, train locally, and work together, AI can transform African agriculture. Imagine AI helping a smallholder in Kenya choose the best crop based on expected rainfall. Or a cassava farmer in Rwanda receiving an alert when his field shows early signs of disease long before his eyes can detect it. Or a cooperative in Nigeria using AI to track prices across several markets and decide where to sell for the best profit. This is not science fiction. This is possible if preparation is done. However, we must be cautious. AI must not increase the gap between rural and urban, rich and poor, connected and disconnected. That is why we need policies that ensure digital tools are inclusive. We need local languages in agricultural applications, farmer-friendly training programs, affordable internet, and youth-centered innovation hubs. Young people must lead the way. We are not just users of technology. We are builders of solutions. From AI-powered irrigation systems to mobile crop advisors, young Africans are already developing tools for their communities. We must stop waiting for imported solutions. We must build our own. The future of African agriculture will not depend only on rain and land. It will depend on data, intelligence, and courageous action. AI is not coming to remove jobs. It is coming to make agriculture smarter, more productive, and more sustainable for everyone. We must embrace this opportunity.

There’s nothing like bumping into an Acumen fellow before 6 in the morning and getting an impromptu briefing on the amazing things he’s doing. I loved spending time with Michael Ogundare, Nigerian Foundry member (’21) and co-founder of Crop2Cash, a company that connects smallholder farmers to financial institutions to access credit — and now, skills and advice. Already, the company has 500,000 farmers on its platform. What stunned me most was hearing how Michael is integrating AI into the services provided to farmers. “The farmers are weary of accessing traditional extension services,” he said, “because much of the knowledge hasn’t changed since the ’80s and ’90s. Now, we have 20,000 farmers using our AI service." Essentially, the farmers can call a phone number (they don’t need smartphones) and ask the AI about any problem they’re experiencing or any question they might have. The AI responds in their local language (one of seven) and will call them back when a follow-up is needed — for instance, to fertilize or apply a different input. And here’s the part that took my breath away: the 20,000 farmers spend, on average, 20 minutes daily talking with the AI. They typically call between 7 and 8 p.m., set the phone on a table, put it on speaker and share questions and experiences. They might ask about tomorrow’s weather or share worries or concerns. The results are showing up in the farmers’ productivity. This video shows how Crop2Cash is helping farmers become climate-smart: https://lnkd.in/e5higg2i Of course, these are early days, but the changes to agriculture are suddenly dramatic — and the farmers, at least in this case, are quickly adapting. We have so much to learn. #AgTech #AIforGood #FinancialInclusion #SmallholderFarmers #ImpactInvesting

🌱 Start With the Problem – A Reality Check on Product-Market Fit in AgTech Starting with the problem seems obvious, but in AgTech, we too often begin with the technology and only later go searching for a problem it might solve. Real adoption works the other way around: identify a clear, painful problem first, then build a solution around it. A recent conversation with a farming friend reminded me of the fundamental importance of this point, and inspired me to write a brief article about it. In the piece, I share: ✅ A common pitfall I see (and experienced myself) ✅ A grower’s blunt take on AgTech pitches ✅ A practical checklist to assess real product-market fit No matter what kind of solution you're developing, it’s a reminder to anchor your work in the real needs of farmers, not just technical features. #AgTech #AgriTech #ProductMarketFit #Startups #Innovation #Agriculture #CustomerDiscovery #