Mid-Investment Update with eSusFarm

Agriculture has always been a high-stakes endeavor, with farmers navigating unpredictable weather, market fluctuations, and the ever-present risk of crop failure. For many, crop insurance offers a safety net, but traditional systems often fall short, plagued by inefficiencies, delays, and a lack of transparency. Enter Esusfarm—a solution leveraging blockchain technology to revolutionize crop insurance and empower farmers in Africa, starting in Uganda.

Now halfway through their journey with the UNICEF Venture Fund, eSusFarm reflects on their progress so far, challenges overcome, and the vision driving their impactful work.

Tell us about your solution.

We are eSusFarm, a tech-enabled platform empowering smallholder farmers across Africa with tools to improve productivity, manage risks, and access new income streams. We are building an integrated solution that combines AI-driven farming insights, blockchain weather-index insurance, and market access tools to ensure farmers thrive in the face of climate challenges. 

How would you describe your solution to a non-technical person? 

Imagine you’re a farmer worried about unpredictable weather ruining your crops. Our platform gives you easy access to weather insurance to protect your income, advice on how to improve your farming practices, and a way to sell your produce directly to buyers. It’s like having a farming assistant in your pocket—accessible through your phone via SMS or a simple app! 

How does your solution address climate adaptation, mitigation and/or resilience? 

Our solution helps farmers adapt to climate challenges by providing weather-index insurance to protect their income when extreme weather hits. It promotes climate resilience by offering AI-driven insights on sustainable farming practices. Farmers who adopt eco-friendly practices also earn income through carbon credits, helping mitigate climate change while improving their livelihoods. 

What type of frontier technology does your solution deploy and what is promising about this technology? 

We use AI for personalized farming advice, blockchain for transparent and secure insurance payouts, and IoT devices to monitor soil health and weather data. These technologies make farming smarter, insurance faster, and farming practices more sustainable—ensuring farmers benefit from cutting-edge solutions. 

What is unique about your solution and how is it different from what currently exists? 

Our platform is unique because it combines free access for farmers, behavioral risk scoring to lower premiums, and a way for farmers to earn money through carbon credits. Unlike others, we also offer a USSD/SMS interface, making it accessible even for farmers without smartphones or internet access. 

How does being Open Source add value to your company?

Being open source allows us to collaborate with a global community of developers to continuously improve our platform. It fosters transparency, builds trust with our users, and makes it easier for partners to integrate their services, enabling faster innovation and wider impact. 

How did you come up with your solution and what inspired you to form your company? 

Our inspiration came from seeing the challenges smallholder farmers face—unpredictable weather, lack of access to markets, and limited financial tools. As individuals passionate about agriculture and technology, we formed eSusFarm to bridge this gap and empower farmers with the tools they need to succeed. 

Tell us more about your team? What makes your team diverse? 

Our team includes experts from agriculture, technology, and business. We’re diverse in terms of gender, nationality, and professional backgrounds, with founders from South Africa and Eswatini. We work collaboratively with local communities to understand and address real farmer challenges. 

Why is diversity important for your startup? How does it add value? 

Diversity helps us understand the unique challenges farmers face across different regions. It fosters creativity, ensures inclusive solutions, and builds trust with our users. A diverse team means we’re better equipped to develop solutions that work for everyone, regardless of their background or location. 

What do you plan on doing with UNICEF's Venture Fund investment and how will you use the investment to leverage additional opportunities for growth? 

We plan to use the investment to expand our pilot programs, enhance our AI capabilities, and deploy more IoT devices. This funding will also help us build partnerships with insurers and scale to new regions, setting the foundation for additional investor interest and market entry. 

What challenges are you currently facing in building your solution and/or startup? 

• Farmer Adoption: Many smallholder farmers are skeptical about new technologies. 
• Data Accessibility: Gathering accurate and real-time weather and soil data is challenging in rural areas. 
• Regulatory Constraints: Navigating regulations for blockchain-based insurance and carbon markets requires significant effort. 

How can others support you in working towards overcoming these challenges?  

• Community Partnerships: NGOs and local organizations can help build trust and drive adoption among farmers. 
• Technical Collaboration: Support from data providers and IoT companies to enhance our monitoring capabilities. 
• Policy Advocacy: Engagement with regulators and policymakers to create a supportive environment for blockchain and carbon markets. 

Connect with eSusFarm

Interested to connect with the eSusFarm team to learn more about their solution? Visit the website, or follow eSusFarm on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.