Climate change presents a complex set of challenges that significantly impact agriculture. African Growers’ dependence on rain-fed agriculture increases their climate vulnerabilities which have increased in recent years. Climate hazards like erratic rainfall, prolonged droughts, heatwaves, and extreme weather events like floods pose severe threats to Growers (smallholder and emerging commercial farmers) and thus food security.
Farmz2u adopts a multi-pronged strategy to bolster climate adaptation and resilience. At the farm level, Kuju’s digital extension services facilitate Growers' adoption of regenerative practices like mulching and cover cropping, and climate-smart technologies like drip irrigation. These practices facilitate climate finance and index-based insurance to enhance production. Also, transactions with Suppliers are optimised using data, like historical weather patterns and real-time monitoring, to develop tailored insurance products that reduce disruptions from climate extremes like floods or droughts.
Procurement via Talon prioritises sourcing from growers implementing climate adaptation and resilience measures. To drive innovation, Farmz2U actively collaborates with leading research institutions like Berkeley Lab and Kenyatta University. Through this, growers can access robust data-driven adaptation measures tailored to their unique needs and environments. Furthermore, they support buyers in fulfilling their sustainability targets by identifying sustainable opportunities across their supply chain. For instance, drought-resistant produce transition which involves buyers like Pladis shifting their raw materials from water-loving wheat to drought-resistant cassava thus demonstrating water conservation.
In 2023, Farmz2u facilitated 15% water conservation from Buyers’ sustainable practices.
