Farmers get Sh18 million support to mitigate against Covid-19, locusts
Two former students at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) have set aside Sh18 million to mitigate against Covid-19 and the locust invasion in form of technical assistance to farmers through their respective firms.
The joint funding is being offered by Brian Bosire and Evans Wadongo, founders of technological firms, Wadson Ventures by Wandono and UjuziKilimo by Bosire.
The fund is to provide intelligent agronomy information to eligible smallholder farmers affiliated to saccos and State agencies.
Co-operatives and farmers interested in receiving the free support are directed to sign up by visiting www.ujuzikilimo.com for guidance.
Unveiling of the Sh18.4 million partnership, Bosire urged the youth to aim at being useful and resourceful, especially at these uncertain times.
The data-driven interventions facilitated by the fund are geared towards agricultural production recovery from pandemic woes.
“Continued use of non-data driven decisions on food production by planners, related stakeholders and policy makers, has the potential to exacerbate food crisis during the post-Covid-19 period,” Bosire warned.
JKUAT Vice Chancellor Prof Victoria Ngumi praised effort demonstrated by the alumni, expressing delight at what she termed a futuristic and timely solution to a problem that hits humanity at its core; food insecurity.
Bosire said the pandemic and locust invasion have instigated untold suffering to local farmers ranging from supply chain disruptions to crop destruction. “It has led to massive losses and uncertainty in food security,” he said.
UjuziKilimo leverages on technology to spur quality modern farming in Africa.
Through precision farming, data analytics, interactive SMS, and climate smart farming, the firm believes that Africa’s future is in agriculture and technology is the conduit to that future.
Wadongo is a social entrepreneur and an angel investor, a founding partner at Wadson Ventures.
The firm offers mentorship, incubation, acceleration and funding to African entrepreneurs solving critical issues affecting Africans.
The 2010 recipient of the prestigious CNN Hero of the Year Award, Wadongo is also a co-founder of Greenwize Energy and the Sustainable Development for All, a charitable venture.
