Agritech & Smart Farming
Farmers and agricultural value chains are among the hardest customers for financial and digital services to reach.
We help development partners, agribusinesses, financial institutions and governments design agritech and smart farming programmes that bring finance, markets, data and know-how to farmers.
Why agritech programmes stall
Advisory for agritech and smart farming programmes: farmer lending, agricultural marketplaces, smart extension services and data-driven farming, designed with development partners, agribusinesses and financial institutions.
Farmers often lack credit histories, so traditional lending models leave them out.
Fragmented value chains make it hard to reach farmers at scale and to collect repayments reliably.
Many pilots prove the technology but never find a business model that lasts beyond donor funding.
How we help
We help development partners, agribusinesses, financial institutions and governments design agritech and smart farming programmes that bring finance, markets, data and know-how to farmers.
Programme strategy and design
Target farmer segments, value-chain entry points and the partners needed to reach them.
Farmer lending
Credit products for smallholders that use alternative data and value-chain information to assess risk.
Agricultural marketplaces
Digital marketplaces that connect farmers with buyers, input suppliers and logistics providers.
Smart extension services
Digital advisory that brings agronomic know-how, weather and market information to farmers.
Smart farming and farm data
Use of sensors, satellite and weather data to guide farming decisions and support lending and insurance.
Sustainability and scale
Business models, partnerships and funding structures that let programmes outlive the pilot.
What you receive
Deliverables are tailored to the scope of each engagement.
- Programme blueprint and partner map
- Farmer and value-chain segmentation
- Credit, product and data design
- Business model and funding plan
- Implementation roadmap and KPIs
Our approach
Every engagement follows a clear path, scoped to what the client needs. Some clients bring us in for a single phase; others ask us to stay through launch.
- 01Diagnose
- 02Design
- 03Mobilise
- 04Launch & scale
Frequently asked questions
How can farmers without a credit history get loans?
Lenders can assess farmers using alternative data such as mobile money activity, crop and yield information, and sales through value-chain buyers. Linking repayment to harvest sales also reduces risk.
What is smart farming?
Smart farming uses data and digital tools, such as soil and weather sensors, satellite imagery and mobile advisory, to help farmers decide what, when and how to plant, irrigate and harvest. The same data can help lenders and insurers assess risk.
What makes a smart extension service effective?
It delivers timely, local advice in the farmer's language through channels they already use, such as SMS, voice or simple apps, and links that advice to inputs, finance and market access.
Do you work with development organisations?
Yes. Our founders have delivered agritech and financial-inclusion programmes with international development partners.
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Explore this practiceLet's talk about your project
Tell us what you are working on and we will come back with a view on how we can help.
info@mercanera.com