AGRA

Soils are the foundation of all life on Earth. They sustain biodiversity, provide nutrients, regulate water cycles, and are central to food security. Recognizing their critical importance, AGRA, in partnership with the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) and the Ministry of Agriculture, hosted Mali’s first-ever event specifically dedicated to soils, in celebration of World Soil Day. This landmark initiative focused on preserving the health of arid and semi-arid soils, with the theme: “Nourish the Earth, Secure the Future.”

A Collaborative Effort for Soil Health

The event, supported through the Soil Values Program, highlighted the increasing degradation of soils, with an alarming 65% of land in the Sahel already affected. It underscored the urgency of collaborative and innovative solutions to restore soil health, safeguard agricultural productivity, and combat food insecurity.

The forum, chaired by Mali’s Minister of Agriculture, brought together policymakers, technical experts, development partners, and private sector stakeholders. Discussions were enriched by expert panels and roundtable exchanges, offering a comprehensive platform to address soil health and its implications for agricultural transformation.

Key Recommendations for Action

The panels and discussions produced actionable recommendations to guide Mali’s soil health initiatives, including:

1. Establishing a platform for dialogue among soil experts and affiliated stakeholders to facilitate knowledge exchange.
2. Creating synergies of action among stakeholders to collaboratively restore degraded lands.
3. Updating Mali’s soil mapping to provide accurate data for decision-making and land management.
4. Developing targeted policies to address land tenure, soil health, and the sustainable use of non-timber forest products.
5. Investing in action research on soils to promote sustainable land management practices.

A Call to Action for Sustainable Soil Management

In his address, the Minister of Agriculture emphasized that sustainable soil management is not only an environmental necessity but also a socio-economic and humanitarian imperative. The forum provided an opportunity to reflect on the role of soils in achieving Mali’s food security and agricultural sustainability goals, as outlined in the Nairobi Declaration on Fertilizers and Soil Health in Africa.

A Commitment to the Future

This inaugural event was more than a celebration—it was a call to action. AGRA and IFDC reaffirmed their commitment to fostering innovation, capacity-building, and partnerships that prioritize soil health. By aligning national strategies with regional and international initiatives, Mali is taking decisive steps toward transforming its agricultural systems for resilience and sustainability.

World Soil Day 2024 was a significant milestone, marking the beginning of a dedicated national focus on soil health in Mali. Together, let us preserve and regenerate our soils, ensuring they continue to nourish our present and future generations.

“Our vision is to make farming simple, efficient, and accessible for everyone. We believe agriculture is the gateway to a better future for Africa.”

These words, often repeated by Abrhame  Endrias, the 38-year-old Founder and Managing Director of Green Agro Solutions (GAS), are more than an ambition—they are a commitment to revolutionizing farming in Ethiopia. With a background in Business Management from Addis Ababa University, Abrhame transformed from a teacher into a trailblazing entrepreneur driven by a desire to empower smallholder farmers in Ethiopia.

Growing up, Abraham’s father, an agricultural professional, often brought home reports and research papers, sharing insights about Ethiopia’s farming challenges.

“One of the biggest issues farmers face is a lack of timely and accurate information,” his father would explain. These early conversations planted the seeds of Abrhame’s lifelong mission to transform agriculture. After graduating, Abraham began his career as a teacher. However, financial constraints and his entrepreneurial ambition led him to start a small electronics business. This early venture laid the foundation for his eventual leap into agriculture-focused entrepreneurship.

Through his groundbreaking platform, Lersha—meaning “for farming” in Amharic—Abrhame is bridging the gap between tradition and technology, empowering communities and fostering resilience.

From Humble Beginnings to Bold Leadership

Abrhame Endrias’ path to entrepreneurship was filled with challenges. He tried his hand at the electronics trade, navigating unpredictable markets and scarce resources. The setbacks only strengthened his resolve to succeed.

In 2014, with a vision to create a lasting impact, Abrhame made a daring choice: he mortgaged his family home to secure a loan. “It was the hardest decision of my life, but I knew I had to risk everything to achieve my dreams,” he says.

That leaps of faith led to Green Agro Solutions (GAS) and, in 2018, the launch of Lersha, a platform revolutionizing agriculture. Today, Lersha supports over 241,000 farmers across Ethiopia with tools, resources, and market access.

“The journey was tough, ” Abrhame recalls, “but I believed in the transformative power of agriculture. For me, it is more than just a business—it is a mission to make farming accessible and profitable for all.”

Lersha employs an innovative “phygital” model, combining digital tools with personalized support to deliver practical solutions to farmers. Its core services include:

• Mechanization: Providing modern equipment for efficient land preparation and harvesting.
• Market Linkages: Connecting farmers directly to buyers with transparent pricing.
• Climate-Smart Advisories: Offering real-time updates to manage unpredictable weather.
• Financial Inclusion: Enabling access to loans and building financial literacy.

Unlocking Potential: Impact of Lersha

By 2023, Lersha had expanded to six Ethiopian regions, including Amhara, Oromia, and Sidama, and initiated pilot projects in Kenya. The platform processed 12,000 mechanization requests and sent 2 million SMS advisories in local languages—an achievement that underscores its scalability and impact.

But Lersha’s success is best reflected in personal stories from Ethiopia:

• Meseret, a single mother in the Oromia region, doubled her wheat yield using Lersha’s mechanization services. “Lersha gave me the tools to succeed. Now, I harvest with confidence,” she says.
• Dereje, a young farmer in the Tigray region, transitioned from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture with Lersha’s financial tools. “This platform is not just technology; it’s empowerment,” he adds.

These stories highlight how innovative tools can unlock potential and turn barriers into opportunities.

Strategic Collaboration with AGRA

At the AGRA Ethiopia joint results review (JRR) Meeting in Adama, stakeholders—including the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ethiopian Commodity Exchange (ECX)—discussed strategies to align investments with grassroots realities. A visit to the Dina Food Complex provided a firsthand look at how establishing linkages with processors plays a role in transforming agriculture. Processing 194 metric tons daily of wheat, maize, and teff, Dina offers a blueprint for integrating smallholder farmers into formal markets. “Dina exemplifies how anchor firms can drive agricultural transformation,” Abrhame observed.

AGRA has been instrumental in the success of Lersha, addressing critical challenges like pre and post-harvesting system development, technology introduction, and access to market link with farmers with producers anchor firms (off-takers). By integrating post-harvest technologies, the platform ensures farmers maximize the value of their produce while minimizing waste. AGRA’s collaboration extends to anchor firms like Dina, connecting them to financial resources and creating a more resilient ecosystem.

At the JRR meeting noted above, “System-level investments must be flexible to learn from grassroots realities and experiences, and landscape level investments in support of some of the activities of partners such as GAS should also be carefully packaged to inform deliberations at the systems level” said Dr. Yihenew Zewdie, AGRA Ethiopia Country Director. “This is about more than tools— dignity, resilience, and ensuring no farmer are neglacted.”

Scaling for a Transformational Future

Abraham elucidates, “Ethiopia is home to 16 million smallholder farming households, underscoring the immense demand for platforms like Lersha.” Despite its achievements, the platform faces challenges, such as limited mechanization providers and fluctuating market demands. However, having already reached 241,000 users, Lersha demonstrates the potential for creating synergy with the government, private sector, international research institutions, academia, and multinational organizations. These partnerships are crucial for scaling its impact, not only in Ethiopia but across other African nations.

Lersha has ambitious plans for the future. By 2027, the company aims to support 1 million active users, extend its reach, and incorporate AI-powered precision farming tools into its offerings. For Abrhame, this mission is deeply personal: “We are not just growing crops—we are cultivating hope, resilience, and prosperity for Ethiopia and beyond.

A Blueprint for Agricultural Transformation of Africa

The story of Abraham Endrias and Lersha exemplifies how innovation, resilience, and collaboration can transform agriculture. It demonstrates how multi-stakeholder partnerships—anchored by nationally owned frameworks and programmatic responses transform Ethiopia’s agricultural future. Dr Yihenew Zewdie concluded at the Adama meeting, “Together, we hold the unique responsibility to ensure a food-secure future for Ethiopia. Let us chart a path toward greater resilience and impact.”

For farmers like Meseret and Dereje, Lersha is more than just a platform—it is a pathway to transformation. Supporting leaders like transformative platforms like Lersha is more than an investment—it is a leap toward a resilient, inclusive, and food-secure Africa.

Mogadishu, Somalia, 4th December 2024… An AGRA led delegation just concluded an inaugural 3-day mission to Somalia, underscoring the commitment to revitalizing the country’s agri-food sector. The mission culminated with a key meeting with Deputy Prime Minister H.E. Salah Ahmed Jama, accompanied by the Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation, Hon. Mohamed Maareeye. This high-level engagement focused on mobilizing investment for the implementation of Somalia’s National Transformation Plan (NTP, 2025-2029), addressing systemic issues affecting agriculture sector (seed system, farmer advisory services, resilience, market and trade, finance, policy and institutional capacity), and fostering economic growth.

During the courtesy meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Jama emphasized the critical need for AGRA’s support in mobilizing investments to drive the NTP forward. The government’s vision encompasses not only addressing the structural challenges within Somalia’s agri-food sector but also leveraging agriculture—which constitutes 71% of the GDP—to spur economic growth and create employment opportunities for the youth, who make up 75% of the population.

The AGRA delegation led by the Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, Prof Jean Jacques M. Muhinda laid the groundwork for a robust collaboration roadmap.  As an entry point, both parties agreed to jointly develop a flagship program aligned with Somalia’s NTP priorities, aimed at attracting investment from both public and private sectors.

Prof Muhinda said, “The NTP program will serve as a cornerstone for Somalia’s agricultural transformation, ensuring sustainability and resilience. In collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, we identified several key areas for partnership. Such as Strengthening Seed Systems, Sector Coordination Mechanisms, Agricultural Data Systems, Leadership Cultivation and National Agriculture Investment Plan.”

AGRA’s will walk with the Government of Somalia for them to realize their vision for a vibrant and sustainable agri-food sector. “We shall leverage AGRA’s expertise and resources, to support Somalia’s journey towards economic recovery and food security. This mission marks a significant step in reshaping the narrative around Somalia’s economic recovery, highlighting the potential for growth and resilience within the agri-food sector,” said Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation, Hon. Mohamed Maareeye.

With a shared commitment to addressing systemic issues and promoting sustainable growth, AGRA and the Government of Somalia are poised to drive transformative change, benefiting millions of Somalis and contributing to the nation and region’s long-term prosperity.

“It isn’t just about efficiency. It’s about giving voice to those who feed our nations,” declared  Fatma Fernandes, the founder of Quincewood, as she began her presentation at the Seed Stakeholders Learning Event in Kampala.

In 2021, we profiled Quincewood, a trailblazing AgTech company from Tanzania, driven by a simple yet transformative mission: to restore dignity to farming and empower those who feed our nations. At the time, the company had just begun to redefine agricultural systems through it’s innovative platforms. Three years later, the Quincewood story has fast evolved into a beacon of growth and resilience, with its roots firmly planted in its founding idea: farmers deserve better than uncertainty – and that trust, dignity, and connection must be at the heart of every solution.

The Problem: An Agricultural Crisis of Trust

Tanzania’s farmers are the backbone of the nation, feeding millions despite facing daily challenges. These challenges often aren’t due to a lack of effort or skill but stem from an absence of trust, trust in seeds, data, insurance, and markets. In Tanzania, more and more land is being cultivated for agriculture to meet increasing food demands from a rapidly expanding population. Two-thirds of Tanzania’s population work in agriculture making it a mainstay of the economy, with small scale farmers dominating food production. Due to the high demand for seeds and pesticides, challenges arise in the purchase of seeds with some farmers unfortunately buying counterfeit or recycled seeds which they are made to believe  are the potentially higher-yielding hybrid seeds.

Counterfeit seeds, unpredictable weather, and unreliable markets create uncertainty; and uncertainty is costly: crops fail, incomes dwindle, and entire communities suffer. For Fatma and her team, solving these problems meant addressing the root cause, restoring trust.

The Solution: Bridging Technology and Trust

The eHakiki Verification System has been a central solution to the gaps they identified—a revolutionary tool that enables farmers to verify the authenticity of their seeds through a simple mobile interaction. Quincewood’s eHakiki technology is the first government-backed verification platform to be implemented nationwide and adopted by the Tanzania Official Seed Certification Institute (TOSCI). The e-verification system supplements the government’s in-person inspections to reduce fraud, improve farm productivity, increase farmer income, and strengthen trust in and sustainability of agro-input suppliers.

Quincewood’s flagship innovation, the eHakiki Verification System, provides farmers with confidence in the authenticity of seeds through a simple, user-friendly process. When farmers purchase seeds, each package comes with a unique QR code. Beneath a scratch-off foil, a voucher ID is hidden. Farmers can use their mobile phones to input this ID through the USSD code 14852#. Within moments, the system verifies whether the seeds are authentic, offering farmers immediate confirmation and ensuring they plant with confidence.

Fatma credits grants from AGRA with the support of Mastercard Foundation complemented by Quincewood’s own investment as having been critical in demonstrating the viability of the e-verification system, now five years in.

The Impact: Numbers That Speak Volumes

Quincewood has grown incredibly, reaching over 450,000 farmers who now verify their seeds through eHakiki. “These aren’t just numbers, they represent families planting with confidence, transforming their farms into sustainable enterprises” said Fatma Fernandes. Through the Wakala Digital Platform, Quincewood’s reach has expanded to include live dashboards and real-time analytics, enabling stakeholders to monitor the registration and performance of agro-dealers, SMEs, VBAs, and farmers. This integration has led to:

• Enhanced traceability of inputs, ensuring accountability from seed companies to farmers.
• Real-time decision-making for stakeholders using performance metrics and geographic data.
• Reduced counterfeit seeds in the market, boosting farmer trust and crop yields.

Quincewood’s Digital Extension Services now provide targeted advice on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), weather forecasts, pest alerts, and financial literacy. Farmers no longer navigate these challenges alone, they have a trusted partner guiding them through each season.

Quincewood’s collaboration with TOSCI (Tanzania Official Seed Certification Institute) demonstrates how partnerships can drive systemic change. Together, they’ve reduced counterfeit seeds, improved traceability, and cut costs for seed companies. By leveraging digital tools, they’re also advancing Tanzania’s progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

For Fatma, the journey isn’t over. “Real innovation isn’t about disruption; it’s about connection,” she emphasizes. Quincewood’s focus on sustainability, youth empowerment, and gender equality ensures that its impact will endure. By mentoring the next generation, integrating STEM education into agriculture, and building digital bridges between tradition and innovation, Quincewood is cultivating not just crops but a new vision for African agriculture, one rooted in trust, dignity, and boundless possibility.

As Fatma concluded in Kampala: “When young people see agriculture through the lens of technology, they don’t just see farms; they see frontiers.”

The AGRA Gender Consortium project, a 36-month initiative, is making remarkable strides in enhancing resilience and promoting gender-inclusive rural economies for increased productivity, livelihoods, and food security. This transformative project, spearheaded by Value Seeds Limited (VSL), Palm Valley Nigeria Limited (PVNL), and Legal Awareness for Nigerian Women (LANW), is dedicated to supporting 50,000 smallholder women and youths in Kaduna and Niger States.

One of the standout aspects of this project is its commitment to social inclusion, particularly for People Living with Disabilities (PLWD). In the course of implementing the project’s objectives, several PLWD were observed facing significant mobility challenges, often crawling or being carried by relatives to meeting venues.

Recognizing the importance of inclusivity, AGRA and PVNL have taken a systematic and deliberate approach to tackle exclusive norms and barriers. As part of their ongoing efforts to promote social inclusion, some identified beneficiaries with disabilities were empowered with AGRA-branded wheelchairs. This initiative significantly eased their movement, ensuring that they can actively participate in the project’s activities.

In Kaduna State, the project is being implemented across Zaria, Makarfi, Soba, Lere, Kubau, Kauru, Chikun, Kachia, Jaba, Zango Kataf, Jema’a, and Ikara LGAs. In Niger State, the targeted LGAs include Bosso, Chanchaga, Lapai, Katcha, Lavun, Bida, Wushishi, Agaie, Gurara, and Paikoro.

Palm Valley Nigeria Limited (PVNL) has been instrumental in supporting the development of high-nutritional-value products from soybeans, maize, rice, and cowpea, promoting household nutrition. PVNL has also facilitated enterprise development through training and capacity building in financial and business soft skills. Additionally, PVNL has constructed and equipped pilot agro-processing centers in Kahuta (Kaduna State) and Kolugbe (Niger State), providing beneficiaries with access to structured markets.

Although many PLWD beneficiaries were identified, five were selected to receive the AGRA-branded wheelchairs—two in Niger and three in Kaduna State. This initiative is a testament to AGRA’s holistic approach to agricultural transformation, ensuring that even the most vulnerable populations are supported.

Through these inclusive measures, the AGRA Gender Consortium project is not only enhancing productivity and food security but also ensuring that all community members, including those living with disabilities, can contribute to and benefit from the agricultural sector’s growth.