According to Humphrey Nxumalo, Head of Programmes, Solidaridad Southern Africa
Across Africa, smallholder farmers remain at the heart of the continent’s food systems. Yet many are trapped in cycles of low productivity, limited market access, and financial exclusion. According to Humphrey Nxumalo, Head of Programmes at Solidaridad Southern Africa, digital innovation and inclusive financing are actively reshaping this reality on the ground.
He cites an example from Malawi, where partnerships with the Cotton Council and other industry players have introduced e-payment systems in the cotton sector. These systems, he says, have enhanced transparency, security, and farmer confidence not merely an improvement, but a transformation.
Nxumalo notes that these interventions are no longer at the experimental stage. According to him, solutions are now being implemented across cotton fields and emerging marketing centres in ways that are replicable, cost-effective, and inclusive. The guiding principle, he says, is clear: farmers should not just survive, they should thrive as agripreneurs.
He highlights the use of mobile-based digital tools, which enable farmers to send and receive money, register loans, access weather-index insurance, and track repayments without needing traditional bank infrastructure. These tools also create efficiency, traceability, and accountability for financial institutions, input suppliers, and investors ultimately reducing risk and building trust.
Inclusivity, Nxumalo emphasises, is built into the design of these programmes. He says they intentionally target youth, women, and differently abled individuals, ensuring broader access to services. Despite ongoing challenges such as rural connectivity and the cost of smart devices, he believes farmer digital ecosystems are evolving to be adaptive and interoperable, laying the foundation for a larger digital transformation.
In his view, financial literacy is often assumed to be a barrier, but farmers already understand value, timing, and commitment. Nxumalo states that loan recovery rates in some areas surpass traditional models, reflecting how fairness and relevance increase participation and repayment.
Nxumalo also acknowledges the limitations that still exist from poor connectivity that delays payments to the need for high-spec devices for farm documentation. Nevertheless, he insists the trajectory is clear. As more agricultural processes are digitised, the sector becomes more resilient, transparent, and scalable.
He calls on governments to partner in this transition not only as regulators, but as collaborators. By supporting digital finance, developing farmer data systems, and incentivising regenerative practices, public institutions can help expand access and efficiency, especially in rural areas.
According to Nxumalo, Africa’s smallholder farmers are not just capable they are ready. With the right tools and support, they can become the foundation for a more inclusive and prosperous agricultural economy.
