#26: African AgriTech - Early opportunities for technology to scale Agriculture across Africa

Overview: Today, we discuss the opportunity for Agriculture technology to make a difference in Africa. We'll start with some context of African Agriculture, discuss AgriTech in developed and emerging markets, analyze Agritech players across Africa & end with our overall outlook. This episode was recorded on Apr 4, 2021.

Companies discussed: Twiga Foods, Pula, SunCulture, Releaf, FarmCrowdy, DeHaat, Arya, WeFarm, Aerobiotics, Gro Intelligence, SwiftVee, Agroop, Pure Harvest, Naspers & Agrocenta

Business concepts discussed: Agriculture technology (AgTech, AgriTech or AgroTech), Agribusiness marketplaces, farming financing, Farmer market access opportunities & Agriculture insurance strategy

Conversation highlights:

• (00:30) - Why we’re talking about Agriculture & AgriTech
• (05:20) - AgriTech in developed markets
• (08:50) - AgriTech in emerging markets countries
• (11:30) - AgriTech startups in India - DeHaat, Arya
• (15:30) - AgriTech in China
• (16:50) - African Agriculture - background, challenges
• (26:50) - AgriTech in Africa
• (28:06) - AgriTech startups in East Africa
• (40:40) - AgriTech startups in Southern Africa
• (45:55) - AgriTech startups in Northern Africa
• (48:44) - AgriTech  startups in West Africa
• (58:20) - Bankole’s overall thoughts and outlook
• (1:07:55) - Olumide’s overall thoughts and outlook
• (1:14:35) - Recommendations and small wins

Olumide’s recommendations, small wins & open questions:

• Recommendations: Skip the Line (James Altucher) & Green Book (2018)
• Small win: Day off work to re-energize
• Other content: Employment in agriculture (% of total employment) (World Bank) & US Agricultural workers data in 1900 (11M out of 76M population)
  
  

Bankole’s recommendations, small wins & open questions:

• Recommendation: Readwise.io
• Small win: Set up wiretamers for my WFH space. The Art of the Desk Setup
• Other content: Planet Money Episode 454: The Lollipop War & Blues Wireless
  

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