The National Cereals and Produce Board has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Safaricom’s DigiFarm Kenya Limited to enable small-scale farmers to 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.
“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.
DigiFarm is an integrated mobile platform developed by Safaricom that offers farmers convenient one-stop access to quality farm inputs, input loans, advisory services, market linkages, and crop insurance.
“Through the Digifarm platform we want to empower smallholder farmers across the country by giving them direct access to low-cost quality seeds and fertiliser, credit providers, mechanisation services and bulk purchasers of their produce,” said Peter Ndegwa, Safaricom’s chief executive.
“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.”
Since its launch, DigiFarm has registered 1.3 million farmers on its platform who have benefitted from the services and products provided.