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.

Launched by the impact investment company, Katapult and its partners, the accelerator program is designed to provide the most talented food and agri-tech startups with the investment, skills and network they require to both scale and realize their maximum impact.

The Katapult Mauritius Accelerator Program at Ferney Agri-hub is a ground-breaking program that combines 90 days of intense digital and physical workshops, network & learning sessions with €150,000-300,000 investments in each selected startup.

The goal of the Katapult Mauritius Accelerator Program is simple — to help impact-driven founders scale their companies.

Throughout the program, the startups will be guided not only on how to best take advantage of Katapult’s large community of founders, investors and partners; but to also develop a more disciplined, productive and professional approach to every aspect of their company.

Katapult’s Mauritius Accelerator Program will provide the companies with the tools, network and the financial support for success.

A Nigeria-based startup, Rural Farmers Hub, has been selected from over 1000 international applicants and will join 6 other startups on the island of Mauritius to participate in the 3 month program.

Described as “the most intense and fulfilling MBA you could ever undertake”, during the course of the program, the cohort of companies will engage in rigorous workshops, online meetups, mentor sessions, pitch training and investor presentations, with the aim of making the startups ready for scaling.

“Agricultural is a science for a reason, we need to normalize the science in food production” said Gabriel Eze, the co-founder of Rural Farmers Hub. “Our proprietary algorithms analyses the earth’s data from the abundance of space resources, turning them into actionable todos for any farmer. We are helping farmers optimize farming decisions against risks while maximizing output.”

Founded in 2017 by the serial entrepreneur and tech investor, Tharald Nustad, Katapult has invested in 145 portfolio companies and has run nine accelerator programs to date.

Underpinned by the mission of building a thriving world for all, the success of Katapult’s investment model has been proven by its four unicorn investments.

Rural Farmers Hub:

Through its proprietary app called Capture, Rural Farmers Hub collects and analyses primary and secondary data from the abundance of space, then use that insight in precision farming advisory, e-Extension and consulting services for farmers and corporate; supporting them to make better agribusiness decisions.

It was founded Gabriel Eze and Segun Adegun; both founders come from farming/development backgrounds and were inspired to start the company after witnessing persistently low yields and a lack of agricultural support services in their home villages.

Rural Farmers Hub help farmers increase crop productivity by providing them with real-time crop and soil insights.

Farmers in Africa are half as productive on a per/ha basis than the rest of the world.

This can be attributed to over cultivation of land without rotation or regeneration that may have led to degradation of soil health; however, another common reason is because they lack access to data-driven insights on weather patterns, fertiliser recommendations and many more.

This directly affects their yields, and incomes, which results in poor livelihoods for them and their families.

Its solution, Capture, has allowed over 25,000 farmers to increase their crop yields by up to 35% and productivity rising by up to 10 metric-tonne per hectare, helping to improve their incomes by up to 80%!

The field agent training programs have empowered over 200 youths with digital skills and regular income for basic living.

Rural Farmers Hub is currently operating in 10 Nigeria States, and on track to scale to 1 million out of the 400 million rural farmers in Africa by 2025.

To maximise the impact, the agric-startup is looking for partners to better the lives of millions, and improve global food systems.