“Efforts to revamp and accelerate agricultural production in sub-Sahara Africa will require the concerted effort of both the public and private sector players” Safaricom CEO, Bob Collymore.
Speaking during the ongoing Africa Green Revolution Forum in Nairobi, Collymore noted that private sector players will need to align their business growth strategies to the national development agenda. This he said will need to be done by developing and incorporating innovations that boost agricultural production to guarantee food security.
Collymore told the delegates that increasing agricultural production will require a fundamental shift towards a different growth path and a swifter transfer of new products or techniques into practice.
“Solving the future challenge of producing more with less in a more sustainable manner is not mission impossible,” said Mr. Collymore. “The private sector can lead from the front by setting aside more resources for research and innovation.”
Presenting the Safaricom example, Collymore disclosed that a significant portion of the firm’s Kshs 32billion investment in network enhancement had been channeled to rural areas to facilitate clearer telecommunication delivery.
As part of the firm’s commitment to agricultural and rural development efforts, Safaricom, he added is running full steam to ensure that 80% of Kenya will enjoy 3G mobile broadband network coverage by the end of the year.
“Such efforts are critical in advancing an agricultural renaissance as it will allow the building of Internet platforms that can foster research and farm to market linkages for contemporary farmers,” Collymore said.
He noted that access to the Internet and mobile value added services including mobile banking solutions, will promote market access, as farmers can seize local and international opportunities.
Already, Safaricom he disclosed has committed to partner with 23,000 public primary schools, which have been earmarked for connection to the Internet countrywide.
Millions of local farmers he said, are already enjoying convenient micro-credit solutions delivered through the Safaricom Mshwari and KCB Mpesa mobile money platforms.
“We are not reinventing the wheel. Large scale farmers; in floricultural and horticultural fields are currently relying on mobile broadband Internet access, to exploit market opportunities and manage irrigation systems. Similar strategies, can easily be cascaded and customized for adoption by small-scale farmers,” Collymore said.
According to Bob, many of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that global leaders hope to achieve as a way of eradicating poverty are underpinned by agriculture and that investing in the sector can address not only hunger and malnutrition but also other challenges including poverty; water and energy use; climate change; and unsustainable production and consumption.
