2. Integrate more women to lead in frontline roles: Agritech training is often led by male agents. Interviews suggested that women feel uncomfortable interacting with male agents, which impacts their willingness to adopt technology. Solutions providers should focus on onboarding women in their sales and support teams, while the government can support the inclusion of women extension agents to improve the uptake of digital services among women farmers. Women in these roles can bring unique perspectives and build stronger connections with women farmers, leading to better adoption of agritech solutions.3. Segment women farmers to provide targeted services: Agritech companies should also focus on segmenting women based on their demographics or literacy levels while delivering solutions rather than treating them as homogenous groups. By targeting sub-groups that are more likely to adopt new technologies, service providers can enhance the efficiency of delivering agritech solutions. For example, since young people are more inclined to adopt agritech, young women farmers can be prioritized as early adopters and used as key channels for spreading these innovations. Similarly, segmentation allows programmes to be customized to the needs of various sub-groups, making them more efficient. Farmerline is a Ghana-based agritech company that provides smallholder farmers with access to vital agricultural information, financial services and supply chain resources through mobile technology. They help farmers improve productivity and market access by offering tools like weather updates, farming tips and connections to buyers and suppliers. The enhanced aggregator model – implemented in Ghana by Farmerline with technical assistance from Technoserve’s Commercial Agriculture for Smallholders and Agribusinesses (CASA) – was designed to empower aggregators and support smallholder farmers. This model provided three levels of service bundles, basic, medium and premium, offering a mix of input delivery, information support and aggregation services tailored to farmers’ needs. Input delivery services included the provision of fertilizers, improved planting materials and farm implements, with timely delivery to ensure maximized crop yields. Information support focused on digitization and extension services to improve access to agricultural data and streamline communication between farmers and aggregators. Additionally, aggregation services facilitated harvesting, threshing and marketing of farm produce, backed by access to mechanization tools like tarpaulins, weighing scales and threshers to ensure high- quality output ready for market. A key feature of the model was its emphasis on gender inclusivity: it engaged 25 aggregators, 56% of whom were women. This approach empowered female agricultural entrepreneurs while improving how the programme served women farmers. The programme has reached over 2,000 farmers and demonstrates how gender-inclusive solutions can enhance business growth and livelihoods, offering farmers advisory services, inputs and access to markets. The model’s value proposition centred on promoting aggregator business growth through capacity building, value addition and long- term purchase agreements at premium prices, ensuring predictable volumes and improved cash flow.CASE STUDY 5 The Inclusive Aggregator Model (IAM) Farmerline, Ghana At Farmerline, we are dedicated to the transformative power of empowering women in agriculture. Investing in women farmers through gender-inclusive agritech solutions is essential for sustainable development. Our vision is to harness these solutions to not only uplift women but also drive business growth and improve livelihoods by providing advisory services, inputs, and market access. Worlali Senyo, Country Manager, Farmerline Group Agritech for Women Farmers: A Business Case for Inclusive Growth 24

Agritech for Women Farmers 2024