Heifer International Kenya launches initiative to support agritech innovators with ideas to boost smallholders production, income

0
1645
Heifer International Kenya event. The organisation supports young agritech innovators in Kenya

Heifer International Kenya has launched an initiative that will see youthful agritech innovators awarded cash grants to support their ideas aimed at boosting smallholders’ production and income.

The initiative dubbed 2023 AYuTe Africa Challenge Kenya is part of the global agriculture player’s AYuTe Challenge series established in 2021 that awards cash grants annually to the most promising young agritech innovators embracing technology to reimagine farming and food production across Africa.

“AYuTe is our vehicle to reward and drive innovation in the agriculture sector not just in Kenya but in other African countries where we are working with smallholder farmers,” said Esta Kamau, Heifer International Kenya Country Director.

“In this,” she says, “2023 AYuTe Africa Challenge Kenya is now open applications and we call on young agri-tech innovators in Kenya with early-stage start-ups that have developed tech solutions that address challenges facing smallholder farmers to apply.”

The challenge will award up to Ksh2million (about $15,698) cash grants for top winners with rewards for promising young agritech innovators.

In addition to the prize money, the initiative is also designed to offer mentorship that helps translate the energy and ideas of the young Kenyan agri-tech innovators into meaningful impact for smallholder farmers across the country, and supporting winners to grow their business ideas.

Through the E4Impact Accelerator, a support program to enterprises, top 24 innovators will undergo a 2-month incubation program among other benefits such as linkage to investment, networking, training, coaching, and mentorship opportunities.

“We are partnering with these actors because we strongly believe that at the heart of agriculture, transformation is constant innovation,” said Kamau.

According to Adesuwa Ifedi, Heifer International Senior Vice President of Africa Programs, Africa’s tech-savvy youth can use their innovation skills to transform the agricultural sector to their advantage.

“There is huge potential for economic growth and employment in agriculture across Africa, but new ideas and technologies are urgently needed. It’s time for Africa’s tech-savvy youth to use their innovation skills to transform the sector,” he said.

She said funding, training and access to agricultural technology remain three key areas that the youth can be supported to encourage them embrace agriculture as a desirable career.

Interested participants have until March 21, 2023 to submit their applications and the finalists will be competitively selected through a rigorous judging process and given chance to do their final pitching where winners are selected.

Once picked, the young innovators will be taken through a mentorship programme and training on how to access markets and grants for their starts up.