“Heifer International moves to promote financing for agritech at AFS Forum “

Heifer International will participate in the Africa Food Systems Forum 2024 in Kigali, Rwanda, from September 2-6, focusing on how innovative financing can drive technology integration in agriculture to boost smallholder productivity. The forum will gather leaders and stakeholders to tackle food system challenges under the theme “Innovate, Accelerate and Scale.”
Heifer will showcase its Mechanisation for Africa project, which has significantly increased farmer incomes and created over 250 jobs through tech-driven funding. Adesuwa Ifedi, Heifer’s Senior VP for Africa Programs, highlighted the impact of catalytic financing on scaling agritech solutions. The forum will also address advancements needed for sustainable food systems and align with SDG and Malabo Declaration goals.  Source: BusinessDay

Our Review
Heifer International’s participation at the Africa Food Systems Forum 2024 (AFS Forum 2024) in Kigali is a critical development for the agricultural value chain in Africa. The forum’s theme, “Innovate, Accelerate and Scale: Delivering Food Systems Transformation in a Digital and Climate Era,” underscores the importance of leveraging technology and innovative financing to address food security challenges.
Heifer International’s Mechanisation for Africa initiative exemplifies how targeted investments in agricultural technology can significantly impact smallholder farmers. By increasing incomes and creating over 250 jobs, this initiative highlights the potential for technological solutions to drive economic growth and improve productivity across the value chain.
This focus on tech-driven funding and catalytic financing aligns with global sustainability goals, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Malabo Declaration. For Nigeria, this approach can inform strategies for enhancing local agricultural practices, particularly in areas such as mechanisation, digital tools, and climate adaptation.
The insights from this forum can guide Nigerian policymakers, agribusinesses, and stakeholders in making informed decisions to foster growth, improve food security, and achieve sustainable agricultural development.