By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
Guinea has launched the
first cohort of the Connected Farmers programme, an initiative aimed at using
digital technology and precision agriculture to strengthen food sovereignty and
improve the productivity of farmers across the country.
The launch was attended by
Mourana Soumah, Minister of Communication, Digital Economy and Innovation;
Félix Lamah, Minister of Agriculture; and Maddalena Bertolotti, UNICEF Resident
Representative in Guinea.
The Connected Farmers
programme is being led by AgriTech startup KUMY, winner of the ANSUTEN Grand
Prix for Tech and Innovation, in partnership with Crédit Rural de Guinée.
The initiative forms part of
the strategic vision of Guinea’s Simandou 2040 Programme, which identifies
digital technology as an important driver of inclusive economic development and
seeks to strengthen the use of technology across key sectors of the economy.
The pilot programme
initially targets 25,000 farmers who have already been registered, with the
broader objective of promoting precision agriculture and improving the
efficiency of agricultural production.
Through the use of digital
tools, the programme is expected to help farmers optimise production processes,
improve access to relevant agricultural information and facilitate access to
financial services.
The initiative is also
expected to contribute to higher and more sustainable agricultural yields by
supporting farmers with technologies and services that can improve
decision-making and resource management.
The launch comes as Guinea
seeks to strengthen the role of digital innovation in agriculture and address
challenges related to productivity, financial inclusion and food security.
By bringing together
government, technology companies, financial institutions and development
partners, the Connected Farmers programme seeks to demonstrate how digital
solutions can be integrated into agricultural systems to create more efficient
and inclusive value chains.
