ThriveAgric, a leading agri-tech startup leveraging technology to revolutionize the payments landscape for smallholder farmers, has announced its partnership with Visa to expand its operations into Kenya.
This collaboration underscores ThriveAgric’s commitment to empowering farmers and promoting financial inclusion.
As the global winner of the 2022 Visa Everywhere Initiative—a program designed to unlock new opportunities for startups—ThriveAgric continues to showcase its transformative potential.
Through this partnership, ThriveAgric will establish local hubs in Busia, Homabay, Migori, Nandi, and Narok counties, aiming to support up to 10,000 farmers.
The hubs, primarily located in Homabay and Busia counties, will serve as centers for training sessions, distribution of farming inputs, and aggregation of produce during harvest.
“Smallholder farmers are essential to the Kenyan economy and to our vision of expanding the digital payments ecosystem. This partnership will enable us to build a strong network to directly benefit farmers. We are also excited to partner with a startup that has emerged from our Visa Everywhere Initiative contest, demonstrating the value it offers for startups that participate,” said Eva Ngigi-Sarwari, Country Manager for Kenya at Visa.
The initiative also emphasizes financial literacy and inclusion, equipping farmers with tailored financial knowledge, facilitating access to essential financial services, and enabling the opening of bank accounts and issuance of Visa cards.
Commenting on the expansion, ThriveAgric Co-founder Ayo Arikawe stated, “This partnership marks an exciting new chapter in ThriveAgric’s journey. We are doubling down on our Kenyan expansion, which began last year, by establishing local hubs in Busia and Homabay counties.”
Kenya’s agricultural sector, despite its declining share of the GDP, remains a cornerstone of the economy, contributing 21.3% of the nominal GDP and employing over 40% of the total population.
However, access to finance remains a critical challenge for smallholder farmers, who primarily invest in inputs and labor.
Since its inception in Nigeria, ThriveAgric has empowered over 800,000 smallholder farmers and 5,000 young people across Africa, including Kenya and Ghana, by providing access to capital, premium global markets, and data-driven farming techniques.
These efforts have significantly increased agricultural yields and incomes, elevated livelihoods, and enhanced food security.
ThriveAgric’s innovative solutions not only spur productivity but also drive economic growth in rural communities while addressing climate mitigation and adaptation.
ThriveAgric operates in three countries: Nigeria, Kenya, and Ghana.
These operations include empowering smallholder farmers with access to capital, global markets, and data-driven farming techniques.
This partnership with Visa marks a pivotal step in creating sustainable development and prosperity for smallholder farmers in Kenya.
