Desmond Koney

Farming math vs Calculator math On the calculator it’s simple: 10,000 cabbage seedlings × K10 = K100,000 💸 But in the field, here’s how the math actually goes: * 10,000 seedlings planted 🌱Minus 800 that dry up from lack of water Minus 500 accidentally cut during weeding Minus 600 swallowed by pests 🐛 Minus 700 that just never grow well 😩 = 7,400 cabbages left. Now out of those ➡️ 2,000 are too small for market, ➡️ 1,000 are too big and crack, ➡️ Only about 4,400 are the “perfect” ones customers want. So that “K100,000” your calculator showed? 🤔Reality check: it’s not that straight! 👉 Farming is not about quick math, it’s about risk, patience, and resilience. Every cabbage that makes it to the market has survived a thousand battles. 🥬💪🏾 #FarmingReality #MathVsField #AgripreneurLife

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Young people are taking center stage at the ongoing AFS Forum in Dakar with their innovations in technology. Eco Bristo is showcasing its solar-powered insect trap, widely used by avocado farmers to control FCM moth and by tomato farmers to manage Tuta absoluta.

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“Kenya’s agriculture and food sector can thrive — but only if devolution works as intended.” Excited to share that my article “Harnessing Devolution to Transform Kenya’s Agriculture” written in the context of the just concluded #DevolutionConference was published by The Standard yesterday! In the opinion piece, I argue that for devolution to truly deliver, counties must strengthen coordination, remove trade barriers like prohibitive CESS fees on agricultural produce and inputs, and embrace climate-smart, inclusive approaches that empower farmers, pastoralists, and fisherfolk. Counties can, and should take decisive steps to make agriculture and food systems transformation possible. 👉 Read the full article here: [https://lnkd.in/dcRichQh] #Devolution #Agriculture #FoodSystems #Kenya #TMG #FoodSystemsTransformation TMG Think Tank for Sustainability, GIZ Kenya, Dr. Sophia Baumert, Jeffrey Ngari, Sharon Vera.

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#Agriculture isn’t just important for Africa; it’s essential. It is the largest employer and the foundation of food security for millions. Yet, the tech innovators tackling its biggest challenges remain among the least funded. Recent data shows agtech investment continues to decline. In H1 2025, funding fell by nearly 50% compared to the same period last year. Concessional funders remain active and they participated in nearly deals in the $2M–$5M range, but their share is shrinking, as is that of commercial investors like VCs. In this feature, we spotlight the Top 50 most-funded AgTech innovators in Africa who remain resilient in the face of funding headwinds, building solutions with real impact on communities and food systems.  Visit our intelligence platform to explore their funding journeys and the investors betting on them! For a deeper dive into the sector’s investment trends, explore our latest report on AgTech Investment in Africa here: https://lnkd.in/dQrTJxgz

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Pikinini-Jawanda Irrigation Scheme in Mwenezi is emerging as a model of climate smart, market-led farming through its partnership with SeedCo under the GCF-supported Climate Resilient Livelihoods Project. Currently, farmers are cultivating 30 hectares of SC Bounty sugar beans using foundation seed supplied by SeedCo.

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