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Tag: Heifer International

  • Nigerians to discuss agriculture, crowdfunding at 6th Investment Summit

    Nigerians to discuss agriculture, crowdfunding at 6th Investment Summit

    The sixth Nigerian Diaspora Investment Summit (NDIS) is set to host over two hundred thousand participants, with the theme “New Vistas, New Aspirations: The Diaspora and National Development.”

    The Chairman Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Dr. Abike Dabiri-Erewa announced this in Abuja. ahead of the three-day summit scheduled to take place from November 13 to 15, 2023.

    The sixth edition primarily focuses on agriculture and its low-hanging fruits for food security and economic growth in the nation.

    According to the NiDCOM Chairman, “The participants include 72 identified Nigerian Diaspora investors, 196 small business owners, 148 representatives of private sector entities, and 88 public officials from various Ministries, Departments and Agencies in-person participants, with 1,250 expected virtual participants.”

    Riding on their significant remittances of $19.9 billion in 2021, Nigerian Diasporans are expected to discuss agriculture and crowdfunding during this event.

    In 2021, Nigerian Diasporans contributed $19.9 billion through remittances, surpassing the country’s earnings from Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the same year. According to UNCTAD’s 2022 World Investment Report, FDI inflows to Nigeria totaled USD 4.8 billion in 2021, more than doubling from the previous year (USD 2.3 billion in 2020) and well above the pre-pandemic level. However, in 2022, there was a notable decline in FDI, amounting to -$0.19 billion, a 105.64% decrease from the previous year.

    Read also: AfDB, IDB, IFAD commit $1B to Nigeria’s agriculture sector

    Agriculture in Focus

    Heifer International, a renowned global non-profit organization, will lead a special session at the summit. The session will highlight significant investment opportunities, trends, and developments in the Agribusiness sector. Heifer International is the lead sponsor of the session.

    Heifer Nigeria’s signature initiative, Naija Unlock, aims to enhance Nigeria’s food self-sufficiency by working with smallholder farmers to meet local food demand while closing income gaps for families. Heifer in Nigeria offers support to smallholder farmers in various value chains, including tomatoes, rice, poultry, small ruminants, and cattle.

    The focus on agriculture is in line with Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina’s statement at the World Food Prize Foundation’s Norman E. Borlaug Dialogue in Des Moines, Iowa. Dr. Adesina, the president of the African Development Bank (AfDB), emphasized that Africa’s food and agribusiness sector is estimated to be worth around US$11 trillion by 2030. Africa possesses 65% of the world’s remaining uncultivated arable land, yet it imports a significant amount of its food.

    Empowering Crowdfunding

    In addition to agriculture, the summit will feature a business pitching segment, where home-based entrepreneurs and founders will present identified and verified investment opportunities. The UK-based Africa Foundation for Development (AFFORD) will moderate a crowdfunding session to share knowledge, insights, and tips on maximizing crowdfunding for startup and early-stage fundraising.

    Expectations for NDIS 6

    The 6th Nigerian Diaspora Investment Summit is the first under the new government led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Vice President Kashim Shettima will present a keynote address and be a special guest at the event.

    The organizers anticipate the participation of 3,000 physical and virtual attendees at NDIS 6. The event is set to host “at least 72 identified Nigerian Diaspora investors, over 200 small business owners, and 50 business pitchers seeking investors.” The summit will include approximately 30 exhibitors and over 60 officials from the Ministry of Defense (MDAs), providing an excellent opportunity for networking, business deals, and in-person and virtual interactions.

    NDIS 6 will emphasize economic collaboration, harnessing opportunities, and fostering a revitalized investment climate for Nigeria. The primary sectors of focus for NDIS 6 in 2023 are agribusiness, technology, education, healthcare, real estate and infrastructure. Others include creative and entertainment, energy, mining, and manufacturing.

    Proven Success of NDIS

    Since its inception, NDIS has seen numerous success stories in business connections and social impact. The event has recorded over 3,000 participants, established 900 business links, and closed over 200 deals. NDIS has become a prominent business networking event for connecting Nigerian business owners and NGO operators with Nigerian Diaspora-based investors. It has also provided a platform for the Diaspora community to support deserving NGOs.

    Local companies have greatly benefited from participating in NDIS. Start-ups like Opalson Nigeria Limited, Nairaxi (logistics tech), Surejobz App (recruitment tech), iSTEMLabs Africa (education tech), and KudiMata, a fintech education start-up, have all experienced growth and success as a result of their involvement in NDIS.

    NDIS has also served as a catalyst for spurring new business start-ups across the country. The platform has inspired participants to start their own businesses, and some investors have significantly increased their stake in the country based on insights gained from the summit.

    The event has been instrumental in supporting non-profit organizations through donations from US-based grant-maker ROBUR Foundation. Beneficiary organizations include the Association of Female Agripreneurs, Royal School of Educational Therapy Foundation, Vantage Point Academy, The N100-a-Day School, and the Godwin Uzoma Ironkwe Foundation.

    State governments have also recognized the value of NDIS. Borno, Nasarawa, and Ondo are among the states that have taken advantage of the platform to present their investment opportunities and incentives. These engagements have been instrumental in attracting investment and driving economic growth in these regions.

    Officials are confident that NDIS 6 will build on the successes of previous summits. The event is expected to open new opportunities, ignite new aspirations, and explore innovative pathways to national development by attracting Diaspora investment into the Nigerian economy.

  • OpenHarvest to empower Malawi’s farmers with digital technology

    OpenHarvest to empower Malawi’s farmers with digital technology

    In a groundbreaking collaboration, IBM® and global non-profit Heifer International have launched the OpenHarvest digital application to empower smallholder farmers in Malawi. With a successful pilot in Mchinji District, this innovative app is set to transform agriculture in the region, offering farmers valuable tools to adapt to climate change and optimize their agricultural practices.

    Read also: Nigerian farmers celebrate harvest gained from climate-smart farming

    Bridging the Gap with Digital Technology

    Historically, Malawian smallholder farmers have grappled with the challenge of unpredictable weather patterns due to climate change, which significantly affects their agricultural activities. Traditional agronomy practices have not kept pace with these changes, leading to issues such as planting too early or too late.

    Recognizing the critical role of the agricultural sector in Malawi, Heifer International and IBM embarked on a journey to empower smallholder farmers with digital technology, providing them with essential tools to boost their productivity and resilience in the face of climate change.

    Smallholder farmers are particularly vulnerable to climate variability, as they often rely on alternating rainy and dry seasons to dictate their planting, growing, and harvesting schedules. However, the lack of access to hyperlocal weather forecasting, data, and agricultural insights has hindered their ability to make informed decisions, impacting their productivity and profitability.

    The OpenHarvest Solution

    The OpenHarvest app, developed under the IBM Sustainability Accelerator, is designed to address these challenges. It leverages digital technology to bridge the digital divide and empower smallholder farmers. The open-source platform includes a mobile application that provides visual agricultural data, specialized recommendations based on artificial intelligence and climate modeling, and tools for improved farm and field management.

    The key features of OpenHarvest include:

    Localized Recommendations: The app assigns each farmer’s field a unique set of latitude-longitude points that trigger comprehensive recommendations tailored to local weather conditions and crop growth stages.

    Soil Monitoring: OpenHarvest monitors soil composition data, including nutrient levels, to provide guidance on fertilizer application, optimizing resource use.

    Low-Cost Implementation: OpenHarvest is designed with a serverless architecture that keeps infrastructure costs to a minimum, ensuring a cost-effective, scalable, and reliable solution.

    SMS Information Sharing: Recognizing that most Malawian farmers do not own smartphones, the solution leverages SMS text messages to transmit precise crop and soil management recommendations.

    Heifer International and IBM Consulting were committed to not only providing farmers with smart technology but also building a network of experts and community facilitators to implement these solutions effectively.

    A Promising Pilot

    The pilot project was initiated in Mchinji District and reached over 200 users, translating to approximately 1,000 direct beneficiaries. Most of these users were part of families with an average size of about five people. The results were promising, with the majority of farmers experiencing increased yields. Some participants even doubled or tripled their output for the season.

    With these positive outcomes, Heifer International plans to expand the OpenHarvest initiative to other districts. The first expansion phase will include approximately 300 additional farmers in Kasungu. The program is also evaluating other innovations, such as developing robust AI models and AI integrations based on a roadmap developed in partnership with IBM.

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    Transforming Lives in Malawi

    The OpenHarvest platform has the potential to revolutionize agriculture in Malawi. By providing smallholder farmers with access to critical information, insights, and guidance through digital technology, these farmers can make informed decisions, maximize their productivity, and build resilience to climate change.

    The collaborative effort between Heifer International and IBM exemplifies the power of technology to drive sustainable change in communities. By empowering farmers with digital solutions, Malawi is poised to build a more resilient agricultural sector that can adapt to the changing climate and secure the livelihoods of farmers and their families.

    This initiative aligns with global efforts to leverage technology and innovation to address the challenges posed by climate change and food security. The partnership between Heifer International and IBM demonstrates a commitment to improving the lives of smallholder farmers in Malawi and creating sustainable agricultural solutions in collaboration with communities and experts.

    As OpenHarvest expands its reach and impact, it is set to transform agriculture in Malawi and provide farmers with the tools they need to thrive in a changing environment and economy.

  • Heifer International advocates youth-driven Innovations in Africa’s agriculture sector

    Heifer International advocates youth-driven Innovations in Africa’s agriculture sector

    Heifer International, a prominent global non-profit organisation dedicated to eradicating hunger and poverty in low- and middle-income nations, has issued an appeal to stakeholders in Africa’s agriculture sector. 

    The organisation has urged them to enhance their backing for youth-driven innovations and the adoption of technology to transform the continent’s food systems.

    Prioritising Partnerships for Sustainable Transformation

    Emphasising the importance of strategic partnerships, Heifer International has explained that these collaborations aim to bolster smallholder farmers and communities, ultimately elevating incomes and catalysing a transformation in Africa’s food systems. The organisation made this call during this year’s Africa Food Systems Forum, where it actively participated in side events, networking forums, and panels centred around transformative solutions for Africa’s agriculture.

    The forum, which unfolded from September 4 to 8 in Dar es Salaam, stands as Africa’s premier gathering for agriculture stakeholders to forge practical actions for the transformation of food systems and the eradication of hunger.

    Read also: Nigeria, Ghana forge agricultural partnership for rice, wheat farming

    Empowering Youth and Fostering Innovation

    Adesuwa Ifedi, Senior Vice President of Africa Programmes at Heifer International, underscored the significance of the event, stating, “More than 3000 attendees from over 70 countries attended this year’s summit, where more than 350 experts and policymakers engaged stakeholders on ways that Africa can build back better food systems and strengthen the continent’s food sovereignty with youth and women at the centre.”

    She revealed that Heifer International has been collaborating with farmers and communities in Africa for nearly five decades, working to help them establish sustainable and resilient food systems capable of withstanding various challenges. A significant part of the organisation’s work in the continent involves innovative investments in young Africans.

    Ifedi stated, “Our profound experience of partnering with smallholder farmers and communities has provided us with a unique perspective – one that harnesses the innovation and energy of young innovators, alongside the limitless potential of technology. This is to craft scalable and enduring agrotech solutions tailored to the unique needs of small-holder farmers.”

    A Call to Urgently Boost Africa’s Food Systems

    According to Ifedi, concerted efforts are urgently required to bolster Africa’s food systems to accommodate the continent’s projected population of 2.5 billion people by 2050. She highlighted that Africa is endowed with two critical assets to address this challenge: its youth and technology.

    “Africa possesses the youngest population globally, with nearly 40 percent of the continent’s population aged 15 or below, as of 2022. In sub-Saharan Africa alone, an estimated 500 million people will be under 25 years old by 2050,” she said, emphasising the energy and determination of Africa’s young population.

    Revolutionizing Agriculture with Technology 

    Supporting Young Innovators in Agriculture

    Heifer International also called for increased innovative capital to support young innovators working on transformative solutions for the agriculture ecosystem. Tewodros Ayele, Country Director Ethiopia, Heifer International, shared insights into the organisation’s initiatives, stating, “Through various initiatives, we have provided innovative capital to young professionals developing and deploying tech innovations that are enhancing smart farming and food production across the continent.”

    Ayele highlighted the AYuTe Africa Challenge as one such initiative, describing it as one of the most ambitious agriculture competitions on the continent. The challenge empowers and supports young professionals who are developing and deploying tech innovations that reimagine farming and food production across Africa.

    In conclusion, Heifer International’s call for increased support for youth-driven innovations and technology adoption in Africa’s agriculture sector underscores the crucial role that the continent’s young population and technological advancements can play in transforming food systems and ensuring a prosperous future for all. Through strategic partnerships and investments in innovation, Africa has the potential to build more sustainable and resilient food systems to meet the challenges of a growing population.