Konga Partners with UKAid to Enhance Smallholder Farmers’ Productivity via Technology

By Kenneth Afor |

Nigeria’s e-commerce giant, Konga has partnered with UKAid to enhance the productivity of smallholder farmers in the country and give them more access to the markets via the use of technology.

Konga, after going through a series of rigorous rounds of competition with other contestants during the Frontier Technology Livestreaming Programme emerged winner of the grant that will enable it address the few challenges facing farmers in the country through the use of technology.

This partnership aims at providing providing farmers with inputs such as improved quality and adequate crop seedlings, fertilizers and also to unrestricted access to the markets.

Also, Konga through its vast logistics network will help to revamp the food and supply chain services in the sector by delivering agricultural outputs to customers amid the current lockdown.

According to Nick Imudia, co-chief executive officer at Konga Group, smallholder farmers challenges are the main target in which the partnership seeks to address.

‘‘Through this landmark partnership between Konga and Frontier Technology Livestreaming, we expect to play a central role in not only empowering but also positively changing the narrative for rural farmers across Nigeria. The world as a whole has been making progress towards improved food security and we cannot deny the crucial role that agriculture plays in the process of overall national development.

‘‘In fact, rural farmers are central to the achievement of the aforementioned ideals, especially in view of their indispensability in the system of things. However, these smallholder farmers are beset by a number of challenges which hamper their ability to scale.

However, the success of this partnership is tend to be hinged on improved quality of crops grown, ramp up farmers revenue and real time access to markets in the urban areas and the metropolises.

‘‘Konga will provide the much-needed assets, access, our marketplace platform, delivery vans, bikes and lorries, payment wallet and more for the achievement of these objectives while Frontier Technology Livestreaming will bring essential innovation, governance and programme management expertise to bear on the project,’’ he added.