This archive report was first published on 1 October 2019.
Inside E-farms, a woman-led crowdfunding site for Nigerian farmers ¶
Published on October 1, 2019
Divine-Love Akam, the founder and CEO of E-farms, a woman-led crowdfunding platform for Nigerian farmers, is on a mission to digitally transform the agricultural sector in Nigeria and ensure food security in the country and Africa at large.
With a background in economics, Akam graduated from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 2015 and added a certificate in Entrepreneurship and Entrepreneurial Management from Adansonia Project and the Enterprise Development Center, Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos respectively. She was also a 2019 African Innovation Fellow (AIF).
Agri-financing, according to Akam, is simply providing funds or resources for carrying out agricultural activities. Her journey into entrepreneurship was partly inspired by an experience she had starting a catfish farm as a fresh graduate in 2015. She experienced huge losses because she didn’t have practical knowledge, as well as a hike in feed costs during the course of the project.
‘E-farms was founded to ensure that farmers have all the resources and finance required for optimal production,’ Akam said.
The platform operates by engaging smallholder farmers to help them efficiently increase their capacities and incomes. This requires them to engage financiers, commodity buyers, and input suppliers so as to provide farmers with agricultural best practices, finance, and access to markets.
‘Our vision is to digitally transform the agricultural sector in Nigeria and ensure food security in Nigeria and Africa at large,’ Akam said.
Despite the challenges they face, Akam remains focused on her goal. ‘In one word, I will say FOCUS. There are so many distractions and discouragement faced by female entrepreneurs in Africa. One needs maximum focus to keep doing what one loves without having to quit all because of the pressure and setbacks that comes with doing business in Africa,’ she said.
Looking ahead, Akam wants to see E-farms reach out to more smallholder farmers and youths in more geo-locations in Nigeria and across Africa, and become the go-to business for agri-finance and training in Sub Saharan Africa.
