Kenya leads Africa in digital agricultural payments, outpacing regional peers and global averages, according to new data from the Global Findex Database.
- •In 2024, 71% of Kenyan adults who received agricultural payments got their money digitally—by far the highest share in Sub-Saharan Africa.
- •Mobile money platforms have fuelled this rapid transition, allowing farmers across Kenya to collect payments, manage income, and buy agricultural inputs without the need for physical cash.
- •Globally, cash remains dominant with only 4% of adults in low- and middle-income countries received agricultural payments through an account last year.
Sub-Saharan Africa performs better, with 30% of adults getting such payments—and a quarter of those using accounts, mainly mobile money.
Meanwhile, most African economies and emerging markets still depend on cash for farm-related payments.
Kenya stands out in the region. Senegal follows at 63% digital, while Nigeria has doubled its share to 33%. Uganda—despite a strong mobile money ecosystem—continues to handle most farm payments in cash or non-digital ways.
Several factors are driving Kenya’s lead: near-universal mobile phone ownership, extensive agent networks, and pro-innovation regulation. Mobile money delivers speed and security to rural communities once locked out of the financial system.
Yet, cash remains king in most other African markets. The Findex report warns that true rural financial inclusion will require broader digital infrastructure and deeper trust in account-based payments.
