The halls of Rural Farmers Hub, a buzzing Nigerian startup in the digital agriculture space, recently echoed with the eager questions and fervent discussions of four bright minds and a professor from Cornell University’s Department of Global Development.
These students, part of the prestigious SMART program, came on a two-fold mission: to immerse themselves in the transformative power of tech for smallholder farmers and, ultimately, to create a knowledge product showcasing Rural Farmers Hub’s story as a part of a global case study on Digital Agriculture (DA) or ICT4Development.
As Ed Mabaya, a Professor in Global Development at Cornell University puts it, “Digital agriculture is kind of the new kid on the block in rural development. It may not be the thing that will change development, but will facilitate efficient running of every aspect of it.”
DA is still a very new sector and topic, an emerging space where there are so many news lessons to learn. “There’s an initial excitement of what they can do, but the evidence is still too thin,” Prof Mabaya adds.
There are a lot of studies that are being commissioned, including the one with Rural Farmers Hub; but beyond the technology itself, there are questions on if DA solutions can be scaled out; that is, move from theoretical conception to practical manifestation in the lives of rural smallholders. “Are there any unintended consequences? Do women have as much access as men? Are the models sustainable? Is there a willingness to pay?” are some of the concerns raised by Prof Mabaya.
To explore these issues, their journey began in Abuja, the headquarters of RFH, before proceeding to the sun-kissed fields of Yelwa Doma in Nasarawa state. There they witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by smallholder farmers – dilemma of switching to new practices, unpredictable weather, and the ever-present struggle to get and afford quality farm inputs (e.g. improved seed and fertiliser).
But amidst these obstacles, bloomed a beacon of hope: the magic of digital tools.
Smartphones in hand, farmers can access soil information, crop insights, weather forecasts, and learn best practices. Rural Farmers Hub’s platform, like a fertile soil, was empowering these individuals to blossom.
During their visit, the SMART team delved deeper into the Hub’s innovative initiatives.
They saw how mobile apps contributed to improvement in farming outcomes, how farmer education workshops fostered adoption of digital agriculture, and how technology bridged the gap between rural communities and vital resources. It was a symphony of progress, orchestrated by the invisible but potent language of codes and connectivity.
But beyond the tech, the team discovered the heart of the operation – the human connections. They sat with farmers, sharing stories and laughter, understanding the hopes and frustrations that bind them to the land.
They saw the pride in a woman sharing her testimony in the partially adopting regenerative farming method, the relief in other farmers’ eyes as they nod in agreement.
In these moments, the true impact of Rural Farmers Hub became clear: it wasn’t just about tech; it was about empowering lives, one digital seed at a time. Most of the stakeholders in digital agriculture are on the technology side.
The social connection where these technologies touch lives is where the battle will be lost or won. To understand this technology, one needs to understand the companies that are developing them; this is what the Cornell University’s SMART team sought to accomplish.
To better understand the enabling environments for DA, the team also met with key stakeholders working on agricultural development including AGRA, African Development Bank, IFAD, Islamic Development Bank and the Director of Agricultural Extension Services.
The team’s visit culminated in a knowledge-sharing session, where they presented their preliminary findings and engaged in a vibrant dialogue with the RFH’s team.
From data analysis to marketing strategies, ideas flowed freely, a testament to the cross-cultural learning that can blossom when curiosity and knowledge combine.
As the Cornell team departs, the Nigerian farmers and digital agriculture company RFH are left with a legacy of inspiration.
Not only did they gain invaluable insights into digital agriculture’s potential, but they also amplified the voice of Rural Farmers Hub and its impact on lives.
Their work, when completed, will become a global case study, showcasing the resilience and ingenuity of Nigerian farmers and the transformative power of technology in their hands.
This visit transcends a mere student project; it represents a bridge between continents, a handshake between generations, and a shared belief in the transformative power of knowledge.
As the soil nourishes the seeds, so too can technology nurture the dreams of smallholder farmers, proving that with the right tools, and knowledge support, even the smallest village can achieve the height of their potentials and aspirations.
The SMART trip was funded by a grant from Cornell Institute of Digital Agriculture.
What You Should Know about Rural Farmers Hub (RFH)
RFH is a Nigerian agri-tech startup that focuses on empowering smallholder farmers, particularly in rural areas.
Founded in 2018 by Gabriel Eze and Segun Adegun, the organisation aims to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainable economic development among these farmers through its flagship product “Capture,” a technology that processes satellite data using a specialised algorithm.
This system automatically generates recommendations for rural smallholder farmers, helping them to increase food production from their farmlands.
These recommendations are delivered to the farmers via the app, mobile technologies, and through the support of field agents who regularly visit farmers to check their progress and provide additional guidance.
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