ThriveAgric and Visa team up to empower Kenyan farmers through digital payments and financial inclusion. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

ThriveAgric, an Agritech startup from Nigeria, has joined forces with Visa, a leader in digital payments, to facilitate its growth into Kenya 

This collaboration aims to establish additional hubs that will support a network of up to 10,000 local farmers. Founded with the mission to bolster smallholder farmers, ThriveAgric utilises technology to provide financial access, enhance productivity and sales, and ensure food security.

As the winner of the 2022 Visa Everywhere Initiative, ThriveAgric is set to create local hubs in five Kenyan counties: Busia, Homabay, Migori, Nandi, and Narok, to bolster farmer support.

"Our partnership with Visa marks an exciting new chapter in our journey as we double down on our Kenyan expansion which started last year and establish local hubs in Busia and Homabay counties," said ThriveAgric co-founder Ayo Arikawe.

These hubs currently function as educational centers for farmers to receive training and manage the distribution of farming inputs. They will also serve as aggregation points for produce during harvest, allowing farmers to deliver their crops post-harvest and receive payments that reflect the market standards for quality.

With a network of over 450 warehouses, ThriveAgric collaborates with more than 800,000 smallholder farmers across Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya, including a significant number of youth exceeding 5,000 individuals.

The company has set ambitious goals to extend US$500mn in credit to ten million smallholder farmers by 2027 and aims to double these figures by 2050.

"Smallholder farmers are essential to the Kenyan economy and to our vision of expanding the digital payments ecosystem. This partnership will enable us to build a strong network to directly benefit farmers," added Eva Ngigi-Sarwari, country manager for Kenya at Visa.

Financial inclusion for farmers

Visa emphasises the importance of financial literacy and inclusion as core aspects of the programme. Farmers will receive specialised financial education and access to financial services, including bank accounts and Visa cards, to promote financial inclusion further.

Agriculture remains a vital component of Kenya’s economy, contributing approximately 21.3% to the nominal GDP, as per the Central Bank of Kenya. The sector’s significance is underscored by its employment of a substantial portion of the population, particularly in rural areas.

Despite its importance, the agricultural sector faces challenges, notably in accessing finance due to high interest rates. ThriveAgric’s initiatives have been instrumental in providing farmers with capital, access to global markets, and advanced farming techniques, leading to increased yields and income, thereby enhancing their quality of life and contributing to food security.

In a recent development, ThriveAgric announced a partnership with Acorn-Rabobank in April 2024, aimed at empowering over 30,000 smallholder farmers in Nigeria with access to carbon credits. This move is expected to further support farmers in their sustainable agricultural practices.

MTN South Africa and Huawei signing the MoU (Image source: Huawei)

On June 6th, MTN South Africa, also known as MTN, in collaboration with Huawei, hosted the IP Day Summit focusing on “Net5.5G Network Development”

The summit convened leading specialists from MTN’s network planning division and Huawei’s data communications department. Discussions centered on worldwide network construction principles, cutting-edge technologies, and insights into the IP sector, with the goal of enhancing the robustness and user experience of MTN’s network.

At this summit, a strategic memorandum of understanding (MoU) was executed between MTN and Huawei to foster strategic collaboration on Net5.5G. This agreement will see both parties collaboratively advance the deployment of Net5.5G’s essential features, such as 400GE, SRv6, slicing, and Network Digital Map, aiming to elevate the service quality and network accessibility for MTN’s consumer and B2B segments, as well as augmenting operational and maintenance efficiency.

During the event, Rami Farah, chief technical officer of MTN SA, underscored the significance of innovation as a fundamental component of MTN’s network strategy.

Zoltan Miklos, MTN SA’s General Manager of Access Planning and Architecture, emphasized MTN’s longstanding commitment to maintaining robust and stable networks. He highlighted the role of SRv6 and Network Digital Map in crafting an IP transport network that delivers an unparalleled experience.

Miklos further acknowledged the challenges MTN faces in service and network operations, security, reliability, among other areas, in the era of cloud and 5G, expressing eagerness to deepen ties with Huawei.

Feng Su, President of Huawei’s IP Marketing and Solution Sales Department, stressed that Net5.5G represents the future of IP networks and noted Huawei’s sustained investment in ultra-broadband products, network servitisation, and network intelligence. He conveyed Huawei’s anticipation to assist MTN in developing a premier IP transport network characterised by ultra-broadband, high reliability, and the ultimate experience, thereby contributing to MTN’s business prosperity.

Xu Huan, vice-president of Metro Router Domain at Huawei’s Data Communication Product Line, stated Huawei’s commitment to collaborate with MTN to hasten the commercial adoption of the next-generation IP transport network, guided by the Net5.5G network objectives.

The MoU outlines the ongoing collaboration between MTN and Huawei to refine the Net5.5G network blueprint and bolster the enduring growth of MTN’s mobile, enterprise, and home broadband offerings. The partnership is poised to serve as a regional exemplar, expediting the adoption of novel technologies and applications, and propelling the enduring advancement of regional telecommunications operators.

Chosen by the National Treasury, Sigfox SA stands out for its strength and low-power requirements, forming the backbone of the emerging smart water meter infrastructure. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Sigfox SA has been chosen as the preferred network to facilitate South Africa’s shift towards intelligent water metering systems 

Chosen by the National Treasury, Sigfox SA stands out for its strength and low-power requirements, forming the backbone of the emerging smart water meter infrastructure. The “RT29” tender, awarded to several System Integrators, aims to upgrade or replace current meters with smart ones, enhancing revenue collection and service delivery. These upgraded meters will utilise the Sigfox IoT network, which spans the nation.

Greg Rood, CEO of Sigfox South Africa, stated, “Water is a basic human right, and we are proud to be associated with provision of such essential services, supporting both revenue collections and provision. The fact that the National Treasury has entrusted Sigfox to monitor and support over 15,000,000 smart water meters in the country underlines how robust the technology is. We expect this to be a catalyst to further grow our local IoT and system integrator ecosystem.”

Rood details the reasons for Sigfox’s selection in supporting smart water meters, highlighting the network’s extensive coverage, the technology’s sturdiness, its low energy use, and the associated SLAs with Sigfox. Globally recognised as a utility-favored technology, Sigfox 0G has a proven record of facilitating large-scale commercial utility projects in South Africa. The advanced Sigfox ultra-narrowband (UNB) signal’s exceptional range and penetration make it the optimal choice for connecting meters installed in difficult locations.

“The Sigfox SA network already covers 91% of the South African population. Should there be a need to extend or densify the network, this can be achieved quickly and cost-effectively,” continued Rood.

Addressing power-related challenges, Sigfox’s technology is a game-changer for smart water meters, which typically do not have external power sources and depend on battery power. The low-power network technology of Sigfox, designed for large-scale IoT support, allows a device to operate on a single battery for more than a decade.

“The technology has an extremely low power reliance. The smart meter devices are sealed and waterproof, with batteries built in. Our devices will last for over 10 years at one reading a day, which far exceeds the three-year lifespan stipulated on the tender. Due to this extended lifespan, it’s practically an ‘install and forget’ scenario, which cuts costs and optimises resources. Sigfox’s benefits also include ease of installation, accuracy and reliability. And the fact that the network is independent means there is no reliance on Wi-Fi or fibre in the ground,” commented Rood.

He emphasises that Sigfox is unique as the sole mass-coverage network supported by an SLA, boosting reliability and offering municipalities an unparalleled return on investment.

“The transition to smart meters supported by Sigfox SA will mean improved collections for municipalities, real-time and accurate billing for customers, and improved management of increasingly scarce water resources,” concluded Rood.

The partnership with Network International equips Airtel Africa to adeptly handle the evolving digital finance sector, fostering innovation and providing exceptional value to customers and stakeholders alike. (Image source: Airtel Africa)

Airtel Africa, a prominent telecommunications and mobile money service provider operating in 14 African nations, has recently designated Network International (Network) as its official payment processor

Network, a key player in digital commerce within the Middle East and Africa (MEA), is poised to enhance Airtel’s delivery of state-of-the-art mobile services throughout the continent.

Enhancing digital finance in Africa

The partnership with Network International equips Airtel Africa to adeptly handle the evolving digital finance sector, fostering innovation and providing exceptional value to customers and stakeholders alike.

Boasting operations in 50 countries, including 40 in Africa, and supporting over 200 financial institutions with more than 1.6 billion transactions, Network International’s profound understanding of the African market positions it as an optimal ally for Airtel Africa. Network International is set to deploy its services across pivotal Airtel Africa markets, encompassing card issuance and technical assistance. The suite of services extends to transaction processing, card management, fraud prevention online, reconciliation, settlement, and granting Airtel users online access. This initiative promises Airtel Africa’s customers a seamless and enhanced experience, granting easy access to a broad spectrum of traditional mobile and innovative digital payment services.

Speaking on the partnership, Ian Ferrao, group CEO, Airtel Money, said, “We are thrilled to partner with Network International to enhance our payment processing capabilities. This collaboration will enable us to deliver a superior customer experience and drive digital financial inclusion across Africa. Network International's proven track record and deep understanding of the African market will allow us to innovate and scale our services more effectively. Together, we will empower our users with seamless and secure payment solutions, fostering economic growth and inclusion in the communities we serve.”

Dr Reda Helal, group managing director – processing, Africa and co-head group Processing at Network International, commented, “Our collaboration with Airtel marks a major milestone for our outsourced payments services in Africa. It demonstrates our ability to successfully serve Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) via our fully-fledged processing solutions and our continued dedication and commitment to the African region. We are excited to support Airtel’s growth strategy and its business development plans for the entire continent.”