During the 10th AgriFin Learning Event in Nairobi on 27 October, policymakers, banks, tech firms and farmer representatives highlighted the need for low‑cost digital tools that help smallholders cope with erratic weather, market volatility and limited credit.

Participants noted that digital platforms must remain usable after donor funding ends, warning that high fees, poor internet connectivity and low trust could curb adoption.

Prosper Global AgriFin, which organised the forum, reported that its digital information services have reached over 8.5 million smallholder farmers, exceeding its original target of five million, with women representing 41 % of users.

The programme focuses on delivering weather forecasts, agronomic advice and digital financial services that can expand credit access and diversify farm incomes.

Sieka Gatabaki, programme director at Prosper Global AgriFin, stressed that digital tools must show clear benefits to encourage continued farmer use, citing mobile money as a successful example of extending financial services to rural areas.

Stakeholders identified poor rural infrastructure, limited digital access and the high cost of serving dispersed farming communities as major barriers to scaling services.

To address funding gaps, participants urged the development of sustainable business models that attract private investment while keeping services affordable, highlighting domestic funding and blended finance as alternatives to donor reliance.

Jasmina Lipovic, global finance operations and compliance director at Prosper Global AgriFin, said partnerships with banks, agribusinesses and technology firms could help sustain digital services beyond initial grant periods.

Innovation leader Sheena Raikundalia called for investment that links farmers with finance, technology, infrastructure and markets, and urged the use of AI and emerging tech only where they solve clearly defined problems.

The forum concluded that success will be measured by farmers’ consistent access to affordable, reliable digital services for weather, crop, market and financial decisions long after individual projects finish.