- Nairobi will host the 10th AgriFin Learning Event on October 27 at Argyle Grand Hotel.
- The meeting will focus on making digital agriculture services sustainable beyond donor-funded projects.
- The AgriFin Digital Farmer II programme registered 7.6 million farmers, exceeding its five-million target, according to organisers.
- Discussions will draw on research tracking US$4.39 billion in agtech funding across 17 emerging markets.
- The programme includes masterclasses, an artificial intelligence showcase and an exhibition featuring more than 15 exhibitors.
Nairobi will host agricultural finance and technology stakeholders next week for discussions on how digital services for farmers can remain operational after development funding ends. The 10th AgriFin Learning Event is scheduled for October 27 at Argyle Grand Hotel. It will bring together investors, financial institutions, technology providers, government representatives and development partners. According to Prosper Global AgriFin, formerly Mercy Corps AgriFin, the meeting will focus on evidence, financing and partnerships needed to build viable services for farmers.
The event will run under the theme, “Leveraging Evidence for Connected, Scalable and Inclusive Digital Agriculture.” Organisers intend to examine how services that begin with donor support can develop into sustainable businesses. The discussions will also consider how providers can continue meeting farmers’ needs once project funding comes to an end. The meeting will mark the close of the Gates Foundation funding phase of the AgriFin Digital Farmer II programme.
The AgriFin Digital Farmer II programme registered 7.6 million farmers, exceeding its target of five million, according to the event announcement. The milestone provides part of the context for discussions on the future of digital agriculture services. Organisers want to examine how programmes can turn reach and evidence of impact into lasting services. The focus will include customer demand, suitable financing arrangements and partnerships that can support continued operations.
The event will also draw on research examining investment trends across emerging markets. The report tracks US$4.39 billion in agtech funding across 17 markets from 2023 to the third quarter of 2025. It covers more than 900 deals, over 700 funded companies and 900 funders. Commissioned through AgriFin’s AgBase programme, the analysis was developed by Briter and ISF Advisors.
The report describes a recovery in investment following the downturn after 2022, while noting that funding conditions and business viability differ between markets. Its findings are expected to inform discussions on which business models are working and the capital companies require at different stages of growth. Participants will also consider how development funding can generate evidence and reduce barriers to investment. Private capital, in turn, can support businesses that demonstrate a credible path towards sustaining their services.
Organisers say financing needs to match the stage and requirements of each business. The aim is to help companies move beyond short-term projects and continue delivering value to farmers. Discussions will therefore explore how development partners and investors can complement each other. The emphasis is on building services that respond to customer needs while remaining financially viable.
Small-scale farmers often need several services alongside access to finance, including quality agricultural inputs, market connections, farming advice, weather information and insurance. When these services operate through separate systems, farmers may face fragmented access to information and providers. The event will examine how technology firms, financial institutions, governments and development partners can work together to connect these services. Participants will also discuss how to maintain weather and climate information services that help farmers make decisions amid changing conditions.
The programme will feature masterclasses on trusted data systems for agricultural finance, sustainable agricultural payment services, and digital safety and security. An artificial intelligence showcase and a farmers’ experience centre are also planned. The event announcement further lists a marketplace exhibition featuring more than 15 exhibitors. These activities are intended to bring practical solutions and lessons into discussions on scaling digital agriculture.
Prosper Global AgriFin says it has worked with financial institutions, agricultural technology companies, digital platforms and governments across Africa and Asia since 2012. Its programmes seek to expand smallholder farmers’ access to digital financial and agricultural services. The organisation also says it has worked with nearly 200 partners, including financial institutions and technology providers, since 2019. Its work has included digital financial products and agricultural advice intended to support productivity, incomes and resilience.
The Nairobi gathering will bring together lessons from these programmes as stakeholders consider the next phase of digital agriculture. Organisers say the discussions will focus on practical ways to connect services around farmers’ needs. They will also examine how investment and partnerships can help providers continue operating beyond individual projects. The central question is how to turn digital agriculture initiatives into accessible, reliable services that farmers and businesses can sustain over time.
