NAIROBI, Kenya,June 15 – Agri-fintech firm eSusFarm is using artificial intelligence, satellite imagery and climate data to help smallholder farmers access credit and insurance, addressing a financing gap estimated at $65 billion across Africa.
The company, which operates in East and Southern Africa and is expanding into West Africa, says it has engaged more than 380,000 farmers and over 20,000 insurance and advisory service users.
Access to finance remains one of the biggest challenges facing African agriculture despite the sector accounting for up to 40 percent of GDP in many countries.
Many smallholder farmers remain excluded from formal lending due to a lack of credit histories and limited financial records.
eSusFarm says its platform converts satellite, weather and mobile data into digital risk profiles that can be used by financial institutions and insurers to assess farmers.
Unlike many digital agriculture platforms that require smartphones and internet connectivity, farmers access the service through USSD technology on basic mobile phones.
The platform uses satellite imagery and historical weather data to assess climate risks and support parametric insurance products.
Under the model, payouts are automatically triggered and sent through mobile money when weather conditions such as insufficient rainfall meet predefined thresholds.
Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder Watson Vuyo Matsa said the platform is designed to help farmers build a financial identity that can improve access to financial services.
“For too long, smallholder farmers have been invisible to financial systems, not because they lack creditworthiness, but because no one has built the infrastructure to prove otherwise,” he said.
The company integrates credit assessment, insurance and climate risk management into a single platform, aiming to lower operational costs for insurers while reducing lending risks for financial institutions.
According to eSusFarm, insurance coverage can help reduce loan defaults following adverse weather events, making it easier for lenders to extend financing to farmers who have traditionally been considered high-risk borrowers.
The company has set a target of reaching more than one million smallholder farming households and plans to expand its use of AI-driven risk assessment and satellite crop monitoring technologies across additional markets.
The move comes as governments, financial institutions and technology firms increasingly turn to digital solutions to improve agricultural productivity, strengthen climate resilience and expand financial inclusion across the continent.
