Nairobi — Kenya has been picked to lead the rollout of smart farming technology being championed by Spowdi, a Swedish green innovation organization.
Working with ChildFund International, Spowdi will use the project to promote sustainable smart farming among small-holder farmers in Africa.
The initiative will kick off with the implementation of a pilot project supporting 250 small-holding farmers in Migori and Nyeri counties in Kenya, later scaled to reach 10,000 farmers countrywide over the next three years.
Upon completion of the first phase, it will be replicated in other countries in Africa, including Uganda, Ethiopia, Zambia, Mozambique, Guinea, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and the Gambia.
ChildFund International and Spowdi signed a three-year agreement at COP28 to introduce smart farming technologies to tens of thousands of small-holder farmers in an effort to enhance food production while using minimal water resources.
Through this, farmers will receive equipment and training on how to use smart irrigation technology, comprising Spowdi's solar-powered, mobile water distribution systems, which will be used for training in micro-irrigation techniques.
Spowdi and ChildFund will also establish demonstration sites, testbeds, and training hubs for farmers, trainers, distributors, educators, and other partners.
Chege Ngugi, ChildFund International Africa Regional Director, said small-scale farmers are the backbone of food production systems.
"Unfortunately, they have borne the brunt of climate change," Ngugi said.
"By adopting Spowdi's technology, our farmers will grow more food using less water and have enough for consumption and surplus for sale."
Spowdi's technology last-mile distribution has generated 300 percent more food with up to 80 percent less water, resulting in higher profitability and better livelihoods, according to Spowdi CEO, Henrik Johansson.
"The technology helps small-hold farmers to move away from fossil fuels, and reduce the time spent on the field, which can then be used for other socio-economic activities," Johansson said.
"Importantly, it also empowers communities to be food self-sufficient."
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He urged climate finance stakeholders to provide farmers with the 'kick start' financing needed to become what he calls impact generators.
Statistics from the UN 2022 The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World indicates that the number of people unable to afford a healthy diet around the world will rise to almost 3.1 billion in 2021.
The report further indicates that an estimated 45 million children under five years of age suffer from wasting, while 149 million have stunted growth and development due to a chronic lack of nutritious food in their diet.
