It is cliche to say that agritech is the present and future of agriculture. It is also cliche to mention that agritech is changing the farming game. But what other way is there to describe its immense benefit? From the lens of Africa, where technological advancement is thought to be the least available, agritech is a key deal-breaker that can help the continent improve its food production.
Most interestingly, agritech’s growth in Africa is spearheaded by Africans. This may not sound so big a deal. But within the context of ‘people’s perception’ of the least tech-advanced continent, so to say, you might see the bigger picture. From my observation, African agritech founders share two qualities; the love for Africa and the burning desire to improve its agricultural sector. I often ask this question, “Why agriculture when some of these founders have no background in it?”
Maybe they noticed that food production is dwindling in the continent and they ought to intervene. Or maybe they understand that hunger is not seasonal and food production shouldn’t be, according to Farmer Samson of Soilless Farm Lab. Even if the sole aim of their intervention is purely profit-driven, one thing is certain: each one solves a problem.
It is important to discuss these founders to study their drive, their motivation, and their journey. At least, to inspire the next generation of Africans that they can make a difference. This article examines four agritech founders who are changing farming in Africa.
Alloysius Attah
Alloysius Attah, Co-Founder and CEO of Farmerline, has been on a mission since 2013 to transform the lives of millions of farmers, turning them into successful entrepreneurs. With 15 years of hands-on farming experience under his belt, Attah knew the struggles small-scale farmers face—especially when accessing vital information and services. This deep understanding drove him to co-found Farmerline, aiming to bridge the gaps that hold back smallholder farmers.
Source: CityNewsroom
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Under his leadership, Farmerline has made impressive strides. The company has profiled and served over 200,000 farmers and mapped 700,000 hectares of farmland across 11 countries. What really stands out is Farmerline’s Mergdata platform, a tool that has digitised the operations of 1.7 million farmers. This innovation even earned a spot on TIME Magazine’s list of the 100 Best Inventions of 2019.
Farmerline is about more than just technology; it’s about impact. The platform offers farmers access to quality inputs, training, and markets, helping them grow their wealth sustainably. It also provides real-life data-driven intelligence to agribusinesses, NGOs, and governments, enabling them to create lasting profits for farmers. By aligning supply and demand in the agricultural value chain, Farmerline ensures that farmers get fair prices for their produce.
Attah’s work hasn’t gone unnoticed. He’s been honored with numerous awards, including the CNBC Africa’s Young Business Leader Award in 2017 and the King Baudouin African Development Prize the same year. His leadership has positioned Farmerline as a transformative force in African agriculture.
Uka Eje
Uka Eje, a Nigerian entrepreneur and co-founder of Thrive Agric, has become a key figure in Africa’s agritech scene. Thrive Agric, which he founded in 2017, is a fintech company helping smallholder farmers in Nigeria and Ghana access finance, agricultural insights, and distribution assistance. With a background in biochemistry from Covenant University and experience as a Team Lead at Royal Impact Corp, Eje laid the foundation for his venture into agritech.
Source: LinkedIn
Under Eje’s leadership, Thrive Agric has hit significant milestones, raising over $10 million in funding and partnering with more than 100,000 farmers. The company has disbursed over $50 million in loans to farmers, helping them tackle challenges like extreme weather conditions. Thrive Agric’s focus on research and development has led to the introduction of drought-resistant crop varieties and the implementation of silviculture plans—crucial steps in safeguarding food security.
Eje’s work has earned him widespread recognition, including the 2018 Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) award and a spot on Forbes’ 2019 list of the Top 30 Under 30 Most Promising Africans. Beyond Thrive Agric, Eje leads the Agro cluster within the Young Entrepreneurs of Nigeria (YEN), mentoring startups in the agriculture and technology sectors, further amplifying his impact on Africa’s agritech ecosystem.
Isaac Sesi
Isaac Sesi, an engineer and entrepreneur from Ghana, is the founder of Sesi Technologies, a company dedicated to solving agricultural and food challenges through innovative technology. With an educational background in electrical engineering from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Sesi’s passion for engineering solutions led to the development of GrainMate, a moisture meter designed to help farmers reduce post-harvest losses.
Source: PreparationTech
GrainMate has been a game-changer for farmers in sub-Saharan Africa, allowing them to accurately measure moisture levels in staple crops like maize, wheat, and millet, thus preventing spoilage and financial losses. Sesi’s commitment to innovation doesn’t stop there; he also developed FarmSense, a soil-sensing solution for smallholder farmers, which has garnered international recognition.
Sesi Technologies has partnered with global organizations, including the World Food Programme and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, to provide post-harvest loss training to farmers across Ghana. Sesi’s achievements have been celebrated with several awards, including the GIST Tech-I 2019, the Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation by the Royal Academy of Engineering, and recognition as one of MIT Technology Review’s Innovators Under 35.
Taita Ngetich
Taita Ngetich, a Kenyan innovator and entrepreneur, is the founder of Synnefa, an agritech startup that provides climate-resilient hardware and software technologies to smallholder farmers across Africa. Ngetich’s vision for Synnefa was born out of a desire to tackle the myriad challenges farmers face, including climate change, soil erosion, and inadequate supply chains.
Source: Echoing Green Fellows Directory
Synnefa’s mission is ambitious: to eliminate risks and improve incomes for one million farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa. The company’s strategy involves developing and financing climate-smart farming tools that enable farmers to grow high-value crops year-round while using fewer resources. This approach, coupled with a focus on scalability, has allowed Synnefa to reach over 19,000 farmers to date.
With an MBA from Warwick Business School, Ngetich combines a passion for innovation with a commitment to making farming practices simple and accessible. His leadership has earned him recognition as a Mulago Fellow and positioned Synnefa as a key player in Africa’s agritech sector. Beyond his professional endeavours, Ngetich is an accomplished pianist and enjoys cooking for his family, reflecting his well-rounded approach to life and work.
Why These Founders
The selection of Alloysius Attah, Uka Eje, Isaac Sesi, and Taita Ngetich as representative agritech founders reshaping farming in Africa is not arbitrary. These individuals were chosen based on several critical factors that highlight their impact, vision, and innovation in the agritech sector. Here’s a breakdown of the criteria used to select these founders:
Innovative Use of Technology
Each of these founders has leveraged technology in unique and transformative ways to solve pressing agricultural challenges. Alloysius Attah’s Farmerline, Uka Eje’s Thrive Agric, Isaac Sesi’s Sesi Technologies, and Taita Ngetich’s Synnefa all embody the integration of technology with traditional farming practices to drive efficiency, productivity, and sustainability. Their innovative solutions, ranging from digital platforms to climate-resilient tools, exemplify how technology can revolutionize agriculture.
Impact on Smallholder Farmers
A shared focus among these founders is their dedication to improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers, who are the backbone of Africa’s agricultural sector. Through their respective ventures, they have provided small-scale farmers with access to critical resources such as financing, market information, modern tools, and climate-smart practices. This commitment to empowering smallholder farmers ensures that the benefits of agritech reach those who need it most, fostering inclusive growth in the agricultural sector.
Scalability and Reach
The ability to scale solutions is another key criterion. Each of these entrepreneurs has not only created impactful solutions but has also successfully expanded their reach across multiple countries and regions. For instance, Farmerline has served farmers across 11 countries, Thrive Agric has partnered with over 100,000 farmers, and Synnefa’s technology has reached more than 19,000 farmers. This scalability demonstrates the founders’ strategic vision and their ability to create sustainable business models that can address agricultural challenges at a continental level.
Recognition and Awards
The recognition each founder has received, both locally and internationally, underscores the significance of their contributions to agritech. Awards such as the Echoing Green Fellowship, Forbes’ 30 Under 30, and various innovation prizes highlight their leadership and the global acknowledgement of their work. This recognition not only validates their impact but also serves as a testament to their innovative approaches in the industry.
Educational and Professional Background
The founders’ educational and professional backgrounds provide insight into their expertise and the foundation for their innovative ideas. With degrees in fields such as engineering, biochemistry, and business, these entrepreneurs have combined technical knowledge with entrepreneurial acumen to create solutions tailored to the agricultural sector. Their diverse experiences have equipped them with the skills needed to address complex challenges in farming.
Vision for the Future of African Agriculture
Lastly, these founders share a clear and forward-looking vision for the future of African agriculture. They are not just solving current problems; they are building frameworks that will ensure the resilience and sustainability of farming on the continent for generations to come. Whether through climate-smart technologies, financial inclusion, or market access, their work is laying the groundwork for a thriving agricultural ecosystem in Africa.
Conclusion
As we look towards the future of African agriculture, it’s crucial to spotlight the pioneers who are driving change and innovation in the sector. The stories of the agritech founders in this article are more than just tales of entrepreneurial success—they are blueprints for impact.
Their journeys, marked by creativity and a deep commitment to solving agricultural problems, hold valuable lessons that should be shared widely, especially in our schools. With their story, we can inspire the next generation of innovators to think beyond conventional boundaries and to see agriculture as a field ripe with opportunity.
In doing so, we not only honour the work of these visionaries but also ensure that their legacy of empowerment and progress continues to shape the future of farming in Africa.
