Agri-tech, is the application of technology and digital tools to farming.
It includes the application of numerous technologies to improve farming practices, increase productivity, efficiency, and sustainability.
Technologies including robotics, sensors, drones, artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data analytics, and biotechnology.
Agritech is revolutionizing the way we cultivate, harvest, and distribute food and the impact is growing fast.
In 2019, the global agri-tech market was worth $13.3 billion.
It is anticipated that by 2025 ,the worldwide agri-tech market will be worth $27.5 billion.
There are about 234 Agri-tech startups in Nigeria.
Tracxn
AgriTech startups intertwine agriculture and technology in ways that boost efficiency, reduce environmental impact, and improve yield.
According to Tracxn, there are about 234 Agri-tech startups in Nigeria.
Each functions in the different sectors of the Agri-tech industry which include:
- Agricultural Bioscience: (Biologics, New Chemicals, New Crops, Genetics, Seed)
- Data Enabled Agriculture: (Sensors and Connectivity, Data Storage and Aggregation, Optimization Hardware, Software Platforms, Big Data Analytics)
- Automation and Robotics: (Electrification, Autonomous Equipment, Drones, Robotics)
- Supply Chain and Logistics: (Crop Storage, Packaging and Shelf life, Food Security and Traceability)
- Agricultural Processing: (Processing, Biofuels and Bioenergy, Biomaterials, Biochemicals)
- Alternative Business Models: (Alternative Food, Indoor Agriculture, Technology Enabled Sharing, E-Commerce, Farming as a Service — FaaS)
Topping the charts on the long list of Nigerian Agri-tech startups are;
Releaf
Releaf is a supply chain technology company that supplies ingredients to African Food Factories.
Starting with vegetable oil,Releaf provides smallholders farmers with extension services. The startup serves as an off-taker of their produce, and processes the raw material into factory-grade inputs for vegetable oil factories.
To work seamlessly with its network of over 2,000 small holder farmers, Releaf utilizes digital technologies including USSD and open banking.
This network of farmers have supplied over 15 million kilograms of quality palm kernel nuts to food factories.
Releaf is a seed stage startup founded in 2017 by Ikenna Nzewi.
Releaf is backed by Y Combinator, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Consonance Investment Managers, Steve Pagliuca (Chairman of Bain Capital), Justin Kan (Co-founder of Twitch), and Iyin Aboyeji (Co-Founder of Flutterwave, Andela).
Thrive Agric
Thrive Agric is a fast-growing agricultural technology company passionate about ensuring food security.
Leveraging technology to access finance, they empower smallholder farmers . They promote food security by improving productivity & sales .
Thrive Agric is keen on building the largest network of profitable African farmers
They empower smallholder farmers across Africa by linking them to finance, data-driven best practices, and access to local & global markets for their commodities.
This is achieved through a 6 stage process;
- Farmers Onboarding
- Farm Mapping
- Input Distribution
- Field monitoring
- Harvesting
- Inventory Management
Uka Eje who is the CEO , and Ayodeji Arikawe who is also CTO co-founded Thrive Agri in 2016 and has since then made measurable impacts of;
- Over 1,500,000 grains produced and traded.
- Over 500,000 farmers onboarded
- More than 2,600 communities reached
- Cultivated over 400,000 hectares of land
- Have created about 9000 and more jobs
- Have about 225,000MT of storage in more than 450 warehouses .
Hello Tractor
Hello Tractor is an agricultural technology company that is using IOT technology to connect farmers across emerging markets with farm equipment owners.
The startup connects tractor owners to smallholder farmers in need of tractor services.
The startup does more than connecting farmers and tractors.
With fleet managing applications and GPS devices , they provide farm equipment owners with the ability to remotely monitor and manage their farm equipment.
In all, the company’s technology provides virtual smart tractor monitoring, remote asset tracking, and tractor sharing services to African farmers.
Farmers also get access to a second source of revenue and machine owners enjoy reduced fraud and equipment misuse.
Hello Tractor was established on June 16, 2014 Jehiel Oliver in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory.
The company is operational in 15 African countries as well as in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Guatemala and Jamaica.
Baban Gona
Babban Gona, which means “Great Farm” in the Hausa language, is a social enterprise organization that provides support for smallholder farmers in Nigeria to become more profitable.
Offers four key services to smallholder farmers. They include;
- Training and Education
- Financial Credit
- Agricultural Input
- Harvesting & Marketing Support
It is the first for-profit social enterprise in history and the first Nigerian organisation to receive the prestigious Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship.
Babban Gona runs an innovative and internationally recognized agricultural franchise model.
Through these franchises, has cost-effectively provided high-quality inputs, credit, training and development, and marketing services to over 200,000 smallholder farmers.
Babban Gona has made measurable impact especially in the northern part of Nigeria;
- disbursed about 360,000 Profitable Loans Since 2016 with 99% Loan Repayment Rate .
- 150,000 rural men, women and children have had access to healthy food
- Over 200,000+ Ha under sustainable cultivation and
- Over 100,000 women empowered through WEDI in 2021 alone.
Kola Masha (CEO) and Lola Masha (Executive Director) co-founded Babban Gona in 2012.