ACCRA, Ghana — Many in the African agriculture sector are optimistic about the potential that new tech solutions, such as the use of mobile phone applications and drones, could have in boosting the output of smallholder farmers and linking them to markets. But while new tech solutions are emerging at a rapid pace, governments have been slow to adapt to the changing environment — which can prevent these solutions from scaling up beyond the pilot phase, according to panelists at the African Green Revolution Forum in Ghana this month.
Enter the African Development Bank, which in August launched a program aimed at helping governments create enabling environments for agtech. The Digital Solutions for African Agriculture program will provide loans to governments, allowing them to finance projects such as digitally registering farmers, creating technology parks, and launching digital marketplaces. The program sits under the bank’s Feed Africa strategy.
Devex sat down with Ed Mabaya, manager of the agribusiness development division at AfDB, to discuss the initiative.