Malawi Accelerate Signature Program (MASP)
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Technology & Innovation
Technology That Works for Smallholder Farmers
Modern tools and technology can raise what a smallholder farm produces and earns. Heifer Africa develops that technology together with farmers and supports local innovators who build solutions for them, raising productivity and creating jobs while strengthening food systems.
Farm mechanisation gives smallholders access to affordable equipment, and agritech innovation led by young people brings new ideas into farming. Together they point to agriculture as a source of opportunity and growth.
Mechanization for Africa
The Mechanisation for Africa program gives farmers access to tractors and other farm machinery through new financing models, and it creates jobs for young people as operators, booking agents and mechanics. Farming families using these services have seen lower labour costs and higher yields, along with new income opportunities.
Download the Mechanization for Africa report
Young Innovators and AYuTe Africa NextGen
AYuTe Africa NextGen is our flagship platform for finding and supporting young agritech ventures. Their innovations include solar cold storage and digital crop tracking, and they are helping to reduce post-harvest losses and improve market access for farmers. They also give a new generation of young entrepreneurs the chance to lead in agriculture.
Results to Date
- 4.1 million smallholder farmers reached (directly and indirectly)
- 28,980 jobs created
- More than 200 young people supported regionally and nationally over the last five years
- 104 tractors distributed in Kenya, Nigeria and Uganda
- 368 new jobs created through mechanisation services
- 227% average increase in income for farmers accessing mechanisation
- 140% net social return on investment (SROI)
- Active in eight African countries (Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Malawi, Senegal, Rwanda and Tanzania) through innovations that AYuTe supports
AYuTe Africa NextGen: The Agripreneurship Engine
The agricultural sector in Africa, employing around 60% of the workforce, is crucial for growth and job creation, especially for the continent’s large youth population. The AYuTe Africa NextGen, an initiative of Heifer International, was established in 2021 as an agribusiness innovation initiative designed to catalyze ground-up innovation that address challenges faced by smallholder farmers at scale, providing the incubation and catalytic financing needed for these businesses to scale. AYuTe (Agriculture, Youth and Technology) combines the power of African youth with the many possibilities of emerging technologies to support smallholder farmers across the continent grow their businesses and incomes.
At the core of the initiative is the AYuTe Challenge, a competition that identifies and enables young African entrepreneurs to develop and scale agtech solutions. Selected companies receive part of a $1.5 million catalytic grant, along with technical support to scale their solutions and expand their impact. By positioning agriculture as a tech-driven, aspirational career, AYuTe aims to make the sector more appealing to the next generation and catalyze agricultural transformation across Africa.
“AYuTe took my idea and gave it wings. Today, I run a growing business that serves farmers and employs five youth.”
Joseph Odhiambo, Agripreneur, Uganda
AYuTe Hubs
AYuTe Hubs bring young innovators together with investors, research institutions, governments, technology companies and development partners, and match the needs of farmers and food systems with relevant innovations. Innovators will have access to investment and expertise, and to markets, which helps them build businesses that last and reach more smallholder farmers.
Working with Partners
Solutions reach scale when the people who use them own them. Heifer Africa works with governments, cooperatives, innovators and agribusinesses so that what is developed suits local conditions and includes the people it is meant to serve. To work with us on technology and innovation, please get in touch.
Partner with Us
Heifer believes that tech for good only works when it works for farmers. That is why we co-create solutions with the people who need them most. From global platforms to local startups, we welcome partnerships that drive inclusion, innovation, and impact.
