Agricultural technology, or agritech, is a burgeoning industry that is growing year-on-year in Africa. According to AgTech, the agritech sector is a $7.8 trillion industry, with around $2.6 billion of this coming in the form of investments. Based on these staggering figures, former prime minister of the United Kingdom, Tony Blair, believes this is exactly what the continent needs since tech can address a number of issues like climate change among others.
The agritech sector in Africa is brimming with possibilities, from firms that use artificial intelligence to help farmers better manage possible risks and disasters such as droughts, pests, and illnesses, to precision irrigation systems for crop growers.
The increased usage of information and communication technology (ICT) applications, ranging from soil testing to drone technology to the availability of micro-credit and micro-insurance, is aiming to boost the agriculture sector’s overall production.
Africa’s tech revolution
The Tony Blair Institute for Global Change believes that a “tech revolution” will help redefine what is possible for states, societies and individuals.
“Technology can help to address inequalities, manage the climate crisis, transform food production, democratise world-class education and health care, and give people a say in the decisions that affect their lives. It can enable governments to improve public services and accelerate the achievement of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. It is the leaders who embrace technology and its potential who are best placed to transform the lives of all of their people,” its founder Tony Blair said.
“Africa is a future tech superpower, with a rapidly expanding tech startup ecosystem, but it still lags far behind the rest of the world. The continent has already been on the leading edge of using technology to leapfrog traditional development paths, bypassing landlines and moving straight to mobile phones, and adopting e-banking and mobile money while traditional banking rates were still low.”
Platforms such as Hello Tractor and AgroCenta illustrate that African agritech start-ups are implementing exciting and dynamic innovation.
‘On the path to digital sovereignty’
“We can only harness the power of tech for good when we have a healthy innovation ecosystem that enables the best ideas to grow to scale. The closer the creators of new technologies are to the challenges they address, the more effective they are likely to be. Developing vibrant tech ecosystems in Africa puts the continent on the path to digital sovereignty: building the technology and setting the rules that will shape our global future. Increasing Africa’s capacity to create technology will accelerate its ability to shape its digital future.”
The fund believes that with sufficient funding, the continent could be a leading agritech superpower in the world.
“Tech in Africa has an exciting future, and my Institute and I look forward to supporting leaders as they help to create it,” Blair added.
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