Farmers in Githunguri, Kiambu County, are turning to artificial intelligence, digital platforms and insurance solutions to improve productivity, manage their farm businesses and protect themselves against financial shocks.
More than 500 farmers and agripreneurs participated in Safaricom’s Safire Connect Forum in Githunguri, where they were trained on emerging AI applications in agriculture, digital farming, financial planning and insurance.
The forum brought together farmers, agricultural experts and industry partners under the Grow, Protect and Connect pillars, with participants learning how technology can help them make better decisions and increase returns from their enterprises.
Farmer and agripreneur Ziporah Wanjiru said training on Safaricom’s DigiFarm platform had equipped her with new ways of accessing agricultural information, networking with other farmers and improving productivity.
“I have been trained and immensely learnt about DigiFarm and its partnership with Safaricom, where farmers join to earn points and utilise them to do research and access information on whatever is trending,” Wanjiru said.
She said the platform could help farmers respond more quickly to emerging challenges, including disease outbreaks affecting dairy animals and crops, while also identifying products and farming enterprises with strong market demand.
Wanjiru said the training had also helped her understand the importance of separating farm income from personal finances, saving and planning properly.
“I am now able to network with fellow farmers and earn while improving my farming productivity. The platform is also a means of employment,” she said.
Farmers were also introduced to the Ushauri App, which provides access to agricultural information and services, including veterinary advice for farmers seeking assistance with livestock-related challenges.
Elizabeth Kinyajui, Territory Business Lead for Kiambu County, said the forum had exposed more than 500 farmers to emerging AI trends in animal production, agriculture and farming.
She said farmers were encouraged to use technology to access timely information and improve decision-making, particularly in an area where dairy farming and other agricultural activities are major sources of household income.
Kinyajui said Safaricom also introduced farmers to insurance solutions designed to cushion them against financial difficulties arising from accidents and hospitalisation.
She said Tunza Mapato can cover part of a hospital bill for a bedridden farmer and provide a 30-day stipend, helping protect household income when farmers are unable to work.
“We did prior research and found out Githunguri farmers produce a lot of milk. There are also great bean, maize, chicken and potato farmers,” she said.
The farmers were encouraged to take advantage of available insurance products to protect their families and businesses against unexpected financial shocks.
Elsie Oburu of Safaricom’s Oxygen said the Githunguri engagement was part of the second edition of Safire Connect, a platform designed to bring together like-minded people to exchange entrepreneurial ideas and practical skills.
“Safaricom recently launched the second edition of Safire Connect, which is a platform for likeminded people to exchange entrepreneurial ideas. We had a session to connect with farmers in Githunguri, Kiambu, and together with our partners, we shared ideas and skills to improve their produce,” Oburu said.
The Grow session focused on improving yields, accessing quality farm inputs and adopting better farming practices, while agricultural experts guided farmers on farm management and improving the performance of their enterprises.
Under Protect, farmers were trained on income and cash-flow management, savings, responsible borrowing and digital financial solutions.
They were particularly encouraged to separate household and farm finances to enable them to track the performance of their agricultural businesses and make better investment decisions.
The Connect session focused on digital technology and artificial intelligence, with farmers learning how digital tools can improve access to information, support business decisions, increase productivity and link them to markets.
Farmers were also introduced to digital marketing as a way of reaching new customers and increasing the visibility of their products.
Safaricom Chief Consumer Business Officer Fawzia Ali-Kimanthi said technology could play a critical role in helping farmers access information, financial services and tools required to grow their businesses.
“Farmers are at the heart of Kenya’s economy, and as their needs evolve, so must the solutions available to them,” Ali-Kimanthi said.
She added “Through Safire Connect, we are bringing together technology, financial services and agricultural expertise to help farmers make better decisions, improve productivity and connect to new opportunities.”
Through DigiFarm, farmers can access agricultural information, inputs and financing, providing them with digital tools to support farm management and decision-making.
