Top 10 Agritech Companies in Nigeria

Nigeria is home to some of Africa’s high-performing agritech companies. These companies address problems in agriculture by integrating technology to enhance efficiency, sustainability, and food security. This article explores 10 leading agritech companies in Nigeria, detailing their operations, solutions, target audience, and recent achievements.

Detailed Profiles of Top Agritech Companies

1. Quick Leap

• Overview: Founded in 2018 by Damion Udoh, Quick Leap is a leading agritech company headquartered in Lagos. Udoh’s passion for leveraging technology for agricultural advancement has positioned Quick Leap as a key player in agro-technology, focusing on increasing yields and promoting sustainable farming practices.
  
• Problems Addressed: Low productivity, lack of real-time market information, and limited financial access hinder farmer profitability.
  
• Solutions: A mobile platform providing market prices, weather forecasts, farming best practices, financial services, crop tracking, and connections to agronomists, financial advisors, and buyers.
  
• Target Audience: Smallholder farmers in Nigeria.
• Achievements: Supported over 10,000 farmers, increasing yields by 20%, raised over $5 million, and won the “Best Agri-Tech Company of the Year” at the Nigeria Agribusiness Awards 2021, according to Nigeria Tech Summit.

2. Hello Tractor

• Overview: Established in 2014 by Jehiel Oliver and Van Jones, Hello Tractor operates in Nigeria and other African countries, offering a tractor-sharing platform powered by IoT and AI. Oliver’s experience advising U.S. presidents on African business and Jones’s entrepreneurial expertise drive the company’s mission.
  
• Problems Addressed: The mechanisation deficit in sub-Saharan Africa, with only 27 tractors per 100 square kilometers of farmland, limits productivity.
  
• Solutions: An integrated platform connecting smallholder farmers with tractor owners, enabling affordable mechanisation and fleet management.
  
• Target Audience: Smallholder farmers and tractor owners.
  
• Achievements: Joined the Edo Agri Digital Innovation Hub, secured investment from John Deere, and partnered with Heifer International for pay-as-you-go financing.

3. Thrive Agric

• Overview: Thrive Agric was founded in 2017 by Uka Eje and Ayodeji Arikawe. The company empowers smallholder farmers through finance, inputs, and market access. Eje’s leadership and Arikawe’s technological expertise have built a platform that drives digital participation in agriculture.
  
• Problems Addressed: Financial exclusion, lack of quality inputs, and limited market access restrict productivity and food security.
  
• Solutions: An online crowdfunding platform providing finance, premium markets, and data-driven advisory via its Agriculture Operating System (AOS).
  
• Target Audience: Smallholder farmers, investors, food processors, and consumers in Nigeria, with expansion into Ghana and Kenya.
  
• Achievements: Onboarded 850,000 farmers, produced 1.7 million tons of grains, created 9,000 jobs, and aims to reach 10 million farmers by 2027.

Source: Pexels.com

4. AirSmat Inc

• Overview: Founded in 2019 Osikhena (Rex) Evidence, and Soji Sanyaolu, AirSmat Inc develops AI-driven software for precision farming. The co-founders’ expertise in technology and agriculture has enabled the company to optimise farming practices across Africa.
  
• Problems Addressed: Low yields and resource wastage due to inefficient farming practices.
  
• Solutions: AI software providing data-driven insights for precise farming, optimising crop production.
  
• Target Audience: Farmers across Africa, particularly in Nigeria.
  
• Achievements: Secured a $100,000 investment from Zetogon to launch its software services.

5. Extension Africa

• Overview: Extension Africa builds a reliable agribusiness extension system with significant operations in Nigeria. Co-founders Yahaya, who has an MBA from Dangote Business School, and Isah, who has extensive development experience, aim to bridge the gap between rural farmers and modern agricultural innovations.
  
• Problems Addressed: Limited access to modern farming innovations and efficient practices due to a shortage of extension workers (1 agent per 10,000 farmers).
  
• Solutions: A mobile platform training extension agents to deliver real-time weather forecasts, pest alerts, and agronomic advice, connecting farmers with trained agents.
  
• Target Audience: Smallholder farmers and extension agents in Nigeria and other African countries.
  
• Achievements: Won first place in the national segment and third place overall at the AYuTe Africa NextGen 2024 competition, delivering services to over 400,000 farmers, according to a statement by the CEO.

6. ColdHubs

• Overview: Nnaemeka Ikegwuonu founded ColdHubs in 2015. The company provides solar-powered cold storage solutions to reduce post-harvest losses. Ikegwuonu, a former farmer, recognised the need for affordable cold storage and developed a scalable solution.
  
• Problems Addressed: 45% food spoilage in developing countries due to inadequate cold storage, causing income losses.
  
• Solutions: Modular, solar-powered walk-in cold rooms for 24/7 off-grid storage, extending shelf life from 2 to 21 days.
• Target Audience: Smallholder farmers, retailers, and wholesalers in Nigeria.
  
• Achievements: Operates 58 cold rooms across 28 states, won the FCMB Agritech EPIC Pitch 2020, and expanded with larger cold rooms in 2023.

7. Kitovu

• Overview: Founded in 2016 by Nwachinemere Emeka, Kitovu uses data science to enhance agricultural productivity. Emeka’s innovative approach has positioned Kitovu as a leader in data-driven farming solutions.
  
• Problems Addressed: Poor crop yields, post-harvest wastage, and limited market access.
  
• Solutions: A mobile platform analysing soil and geolocation data to recommend precise inputs and connect farmers with buyers.
  
• Target Audience: Smallholder farmers in Nigeria and across Africa.
  
• Achievements: Selected for the GIZ-SAIS Investment Readiness Program, recognised for reducing post-harvest losses.

8. Livestock247

• Overview: Livestock 247 is Nigeria’s first online livestock platform. It was founded in 2018 by Ibrahim Maigari Ahmadu and Ayodeji Adewunmi and is dedicated to improving livestock production efficiency and mitigating zoonotic diseases.
  
• Problems Addressed: Inefficiencies in livestock production, the spread of zoonotic diseases, and a lack of access to markets and finance for rural farmers.
  
• Solutions:
  1. Meat247: Premium high-grade meat processing.
     
  2. Hoina: Initiative for rural livestock communities in Northern Nigeria.
     
  3. AIMS: Animal Identification and Management System for tracking livestock/pets.
     
  4. Xpress: Fintech solution for cashless transactions.
     
  5. LivesTalk: Online platform for livestock business education.
     
  6. Consultancy: Primary healthcare with over 50 veterinary doctors.
     
  7. Technology: Online clinic, pharmacy, and market systems.
     
• Target Audience: Rural livestock farmers (especially women), stakeholders in the livestock value chain, and customers.
  
• Achievements: Launched in November 2018, partnered with veterinary professionals, and promotes agricultural transformation.

Source: Pexels

9. Integrated Aerial Precision (IA Precision)

• Overview: Founded in 2018 by Femi Adekoya, IA Precision specialises in drone technology and data analytics for precision agriculture. Adekoya, a UK-certified drone pilot known as the “Flying Farmer,” empowers farmers with advanced tools.
  
• Problems Addressed: Low productivity, inadequate infrastructure, and climate change challenges in agriculture.
  
• Solutions: Drone technology for crop scouting, soil analysis, precision spraying, and data analytics for actionable insights.
  
• Target Audience: Commercial and smallholder farmers, agricultural stakeholders in Nigeria and Africa.
  
• Achievements: Won a €40,000 innovative prize in agriculture, partnered with DJI Agriculture to deploy advanced drone solutions.

Source: Pexels

10. Pullus Africa

• Overview: Founded in 2022 by Abdulbasit Oluwole, Pullus Africa is an agritech poultry supply chain management startup based in Kaduna, focused on boosting local poultry production and enhancing supply chains through data-driven technology. Oluwole, with a background in agricultural technology, has driven the company’s mission to empower poultry farmers.
  
• Problems Addressed: Limited access to quality inputs, finance, markets, and extension services, which hinder poultry farmers’ productivity and profitability.
  
• Solutions: A digital platform offering:
  • Access to verified vendors for quality inputs.
    
  • Affordable credit and insurance.
    
  • Escrow-based transactions for secure payments.
    
  • Farm management tools for tracking flock progress and expenses.
    
  • Guaranteed market access through offtake agreements.
    
  • Extension services, including training on biosecurity and vaccination protocols.
    
• Target Audience: Smallholder poultry farmers, particularly in rural areas, and poultry supply chain stakeholders in Nigeria.
  
• Achievements: Launched the Poultry Supply Chain De-risking Program (POS-DERP) with Heifer Nigeria, empowered thousands of farmers through its cluster leader program, received investments from 54 Collective, Loyal VC, and SAIS Accelerator, and celebrated its first anniversary in 2024.

Final Note

The list is by no means exhaustive. Other promising agritech companies and startups are making waves in the Nigerian agricultural space. With visionary founders and their innovative solutions, the future of Nigeria’s agriculture and food security looks promising.