Mastercard kaunched 2KUZE this week, a digital platform that connects smallholder farmers, agents, buyers and banks in East Africa
In Nairobi, Kenya, on 17 January, Mastercard launched 2KUZE, which is Swahili for "lets grow together." The marketplace will enable farmers to buy, sell and receive payments for agricultural goods via feature phones. The platform will bring together the benefits and security of mobile commerce and payments to famers in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
2KUZE was developed at the Mastercard Lab for Financial Inclusion in Nairobi, which was set up in 2015 to develop practical and cost-effective financial tools that expand access and help build stable futures for more than 100mn people globally. Through a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Lab is working with East African entrepreneurs, governments and other stakeholders to develop local products rooted in the company’s global knowhow.
2KUZE is being launched in partnership with Cafédirect Producers Foundation, a non-profit organization working with 300,000 smallholder farmers globally. Currently, 2,000 small-scale farmers in Nandi Hills, Kenya are using the solution to sell their produce and working with farmer-friendly agents to ensure they reach the right buyers for the best price.
“Eighty percent of farmers in Africa are classified as smallholder farmers having less than 1-2 acres of farming land, making it extremely difficult to drive growth and prosperity within this community, ” said Daniel Monehin, division president for Sub-Saharan Africa and head of financial inclusion for International Markets at Mastercard.
“We believe that by using mobile, a technology that is so ubiquitous among farmers in Africa, we can improve financial access, bring in operational efficiency and facilitate faster payments. The collaboration between the Lab team and farmers in the market helped to deliver a solution that can be implemented and make an impact without any major changes to the day-to-day.”
Most Read
Latest news
More Articles
![Siemon’s new guide helps data centre professionals design robust AI-ready network infrastructure, addressing the unique demands of ML and generative AI. (Image source: Siemon) Siemon's AI guide](/images/Siemon_AI_guide.webp#joomlaImage://local-images/Siemon_AI_guide.webp)
Siemon’s new guide helps data centre professionals design robust AI-ready network infrastructure, addressing the unique demands of ML and generative AI. (Image source: Siemon)
![Schneider Electric targets Africa's growing data centre market with a dual strategy, engaging end-users and channel partners for expanded opportunities. (Image source: Adobe Stock) Data centre](/images/AdobeStock_335703289.webp#joomlaImage://local-images/AdobeStock_335703289.webp)
Schneider Electric targets Africa's growing data centre market with a dual strategy, engaging end-users and channel partners for expanded opportunities. (Image source: Adobe Stock)
![Yellow Card partners with Fireblocks to enhance cross-border transactions in Africa, securing assets with Wallets-as-a-Service (WaaS) at scale. (Image source: Adobe Stock) Cross border connectivity map](/images/AdobeStock_913849307.webp#joomlaImage://local-images/AdobeStock_913849307.webp)
Yellow Card partners with Fireblocks to enhance cross-border transactions in Africa, securing assets with Wallets-as-a-Service (WaaS) at scale. (Image source: Adobe Stock)
![The partnership grants Liquid exclusive rights to sell and distribute Globalstar’s XCOM RAN private networks 5G access solution in the Gulf, Middle East, and Africa. (Image source: Adobe Stock) 5G connectivity across regions](/images/AdobeStock_183899487.webp#joomlaImage://local-images/AdobeStock_183899487.webp)
The partnership grants Liquid exclusive rights to sell and distribute Globalstar’s XCOM RAN private networks 5G access solution in the Gulf, Middle East, and Africa. (Image source: Adobe Stock)
![C-CONNECT launches in South Africa, offering prepaid users rewards for airtime and data top-ups, along with easy SIM delivery and RICA processes. (Image source: Adobe Stock) Mobile phone with multiple functions](/images/AdobeStock_557682120_1_1.webp#joomlaImage://local-images/AdobeStock_557682120_1_1.webp)
C-CONNECT launches in South Africa, offering prepaid users rewards for airtime and data top-ups, along with easy SIM delivery and RICA processes. (Image source: Adobe Stock)
![Eutelsat Group has a fleet of 35 GEO satellites and a constellation of more than 600 LEO satellites. (Image source: OneWeb) Eutelsat's LEO satellite](/images/Eutelsat_LEO.webp#joomlaImage://local-images/Eutelsat_LEO.webp)
Eutelsat Group has a fleet of 35 GEO satellites and a constellation of more than 600 LEO satellites. (Image source: OneWeb)
![Africa's first 5G MVNO service has launched, expanding coverage to over 370 locations and introducing new unlimited home broadband plans for enhanced connectivity. (Image source: Adobe Stock) 5G across Africa](/images/AdobeStock_183899458_6.webp#joomlaImage://local-images/AdobeStock_183899458_6.webp)
Africa's first 5G MVNO service has launched, expanding coverage to over 370 locations and introducing new unlimited home broadband plans for enhanced connectivity. (Image source: Adobe Stock)
![OADC Texaf Digital - Kinshasa, a 2MW open-access, Tier-III data centre, boosts DRC's digital ecosystem with carrier-neutral, sustainable infrastructure. (Image source: Open Access Data Centres) OADC Texaf opening](/images/OADC_Kinshasa_goes_live.webp#joomlaImage://local-images/OADC_Kinshasa_goes_live.webp)
OADC Texaf Digital - Kinshasa, a 2MW open-access, Tier-III data centre, boosts DRC's digital ecosystem with carrier-neutral, sustainable infrastructure. (Image source: Open Access Data Centres)
![HS Towers and MTN Group extend Nigerian tower leases to 2032, addressing governance issues and securing their partnership for a decade. (Image source: Adobe Stock) Telecommunication tower](/images/AdobeStock_626051764_5.webp#joomlaImage://local-images/AdobeStock_626051764_5.webp)
HS Towers and MTN Group extend Nigerian tower leases to 2032, addressing governance issues and securing their partnership for a decade. (Image source: Adobe Stock)
![iXAfrica Data Centres and Moringa School launch Kenya’s first comprehensive Data Protection course. (Image source: iX Africa)](/images/iX_web.webp#joomlaImage://local-images/iX_web.webp)
iXAfrica Data Centres and Moringa School launch Kenya’s first comprehensive Data Protection course. (Image source: iX Africa)
![Nigeria's new digital free zone aims to boost ease of business, attract global tech firms, and drive economic growth with modernised policies and incentives. (Image source: Adobe Stock) Businessmen's group gathering](/images/AdobeStock_406452333.webp#joomlaImage://local-images/AdobeStock_406452333.webp)
Nigeria's new digital free zone aims to boost ease of business, attract global tech firms, and drive economic growth with modernised policies and incentives. (Image source: Adobe Stock)