Farmers in Nakuru are among the latest beneficiaries of Safaricom’s Bundle la Wakulima package, a new farmer-focused connectivity and insurance product officially launched in the county on May 22.

The package, launched as part of the company’s ongoing efforts to digitize agriculture and support farmers, combines voice and data bundles with hospital cash cover, funeral benefits, discounted farm inputs, and access to AI-powered farming information.

Under the package, farmers admitted to hospital will receive Sh1,000 daily for up to 30 days, while families of deceased beneficiaries will receive a Sh50,000 last expense cover.

The telco says the initiative is meant to cushion farmers from income losses caused by illness while also improving access to farming knowledge, agronomists, and affordable farm inputs.

Speaking during the launch in Nakuru, Safaricom’s Chief Consumer Business Officer, Fawzia Ali-Kimanthi, said the company developed the package after engaging farmers on the challenges affecting agricultural productivity.

“We all know agriculture contributes almost 30 percent of Kenya’s GDP and many Kenyans depend on it for their livelihoods,” she said, adding that in their interactions, farmers cited lack of access to credit, farm inputs, and agricultural information as some of the key challenges affecting them.

Safaricom Chief Consumer Business Officer Fawzia Ali-Kimanthi addresses journalists during the launch of the Bundle la Wakulima package in Nakuru.

Photo credit: LELETI JASSOR/ MTAA WANGU

She said that during that engagement, farmers lamented that when they fell sick, their farms were often left unattended, meaning they lost income because of their unavailability.

She added that the package also includes access to an AI-enabled WhatsApp platform where farmers can ask agricultural questions in both English and Kiswahili free of charge.

To help farmers access discounted farm inputs, users will also be required to register on Safaricom’s Digifarm platform, where they will provide details, including farm location and acreage.

The company says the information will help connect farmers with nearby agro-vets offering discounted products.

According to Fawzia, the Nakuru launch forms part of a pilot phase that has already been rolled out in Kirinyaga and Bomet counties ahead of a national launch.

“We are continuing to get feedback from farmers so we can improve the product before the national rollout,” she said.

Farmers follow proceedings during the launch of Safaricom’s *Bundle la Wakulima* package in Nakuru, a product aimed at improving farmers’ access to connectivity, insurance and agricultural information

Photo credit: LELETI JASSOR/ MTAA WANGU

She revealed that the company had already adjusted the hospital benefit from Sh500 to Sh1,000 daily following feedback from farmers during the pilot phase.

Safaricom says the product will also complement its existing fertiliser subsidy programme through Digifarm, which reached about 600,000 farmers last year.

Philip Njau, Chairman of the new Molo potato cooperative and potato farmer, says farmers face myriads of challenges, however, through the program he opines that that's the first step in improving the livelihoods of farmers.

Nakuru farmers to benefit from Safaricom’s new Bundle la Mkulima package

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Leleti Jassor