Safaricom Empowers Farmers with Digital Soko App and Smart Farming Tools
According to Brendah Cheng’es, Head of Corporate at Safaricom, the app allows farmers to securely store and access their farming data for up to five years.
Farmers during an interview in Eldoret.
By Jessica Nyaboke
Farmers and entrepreneurs had the opportunity to engage directly with Safaricom representatives today, where they were encouraged to register on the Digital Farm Soko App. The platform enables users to track their agricultural records and connect with fellow farmers globally.
According to Brendah Cheng’es, Head of Corporate at Safaricom, the app allows farmers to securely store and access their farming data for up to five years.
Speaking during a farmer engagement forum held in Eldoret, Cheng’es emphasized the importance of educating farmers on financial literacy to help them better manage their ventures like any other business — tracking profits and losses effectively.
She also highlighted the importance of data privacy, stating that protecting users’ personal information is crucial in today’s digital age.
One of the attending farmers, Peter Chumba, a young farmer from Nandi County, urged fellow youth to consider farming as a viable career path rather than dismissing it as something meant for the older generation. He shared that he is currently farming maize, beans, and coffee on his land in Nandi. Chumba also discouraged young people from engaging in demonstrations (“maandamano”), which may endanger their lives, encouraging them instead to ask their parents for small plots of land to begin their own farming ventures.
In a separate phone interview, Reuben Sang, a farmer from Kesses who is also formally employed, shared the challenges of managing his livestock while at work. To overcome this, he installed CCTV cameras on his farm to monitor the health and feeding of his animals remotely. He praised smart farming technology for making his life easier.
Sang noted, “I usually wake up at 4:50 a.m. and leave for work between 8:00 and 8:30 a.m. Proper planning is key to balancing both work and farming.”
Safaricom’s team has been touring counties including Uasin Gishu, Trans Nzoia, Elgeyo Marakwet, and West Pokot as part of celebrations marking 18 years of supporting farmers and communities across Kenya.
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