By Jonty Rawlins, Director of Sustainability at Platcorp Group
Across the African continent, smallholder farmers are at the frontline of the climate crisis. Rising temperatures, unpredictable rainfall, prolonged droughts, and extreme weather patterns are not only threatening harvests but undermining food security, livelihoods, and rural economies. Yet despite the urgency to adapt, a persistent barrier remains: access to finance.
According to the International Finance Corporation, the financing gap for agricultural small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and smallholder farmers in Africa stands at an estimated USD 117 billion. For the millions of farmers who work small plots of land, the challenge is especially acute. Lacking formal credit histories, collateral, or even identification, many are systematically excluded from traditional lending systems.
But technology is changing that.
Fintech is Redefining Access
Fintech innovation is rapidly transforming how financial services are delivered in Africa. Mobile lending platforms, digital wallets, alternative credit scoring, and blockchain-based traceability tools are not just reshaping banking — they are fundamentally shifting who gets included in the system.
By leveraging digital infrastructure, fintech platforms are enabling financial access in rural, underserved areas — places where brick-and-mortar banks have little presence. These solutions offer tailored loan products, often at lower transaction costs, and with user-friendly onboarding processes that suit farmers’ needs and cycles.
The Power of Data and Alternative Credit Models
One of the most promising developments is the use of alternative data sources — such as mobile money usage, satellite imagery, weather trends, and farming activity logs — to assess creditworthiness. In a continent where traditional financial records are rare, these innovations are proving critical.
With AI-powered credit models, lenders can now build accurate risk profiles even in data-scarce environments. This opens doors for smallholder farmers to access capital — enabling them to invest in climate-resilient practices like drip irrigation, solar-powered cold storage, or improved seed varieties.
Inclusive Finance for Climate Resilience
Access to capital is not just about improving yields; it’s about enabling adaptation. As climate volatility increases, inclusive finance becomes a vital tool for building resilience in food systems. Smallholder farmers need the means to adapt — whether that’s through soil conservation measures, diversification into higher-value crops, or climate-smart technologies.
Fintech offers a pathway to deliver this support at scale. By connecting farmers with affordable, flexible financial products, it empowers them to invest, grow, and absorb shocks more effectively.
The Road Ahead
Financial inclusion for smallholder farmers is both a moral imperative and an economic opportunity. With agriculture employing the majority of Africa’s workforce, enabling farmers to thrive is essential for broader development, stability, and food security.
Fintech alone isn’t a silver bullet — but it is a powerful enabler. To unlock its full potential, ecosystem collaboration will be key. Partnerships between fintechs, policymakers, regulators, and development actors can help create the conditions for responsible innovation, consumer protection, and long-term viability.
As climate pressures intensify, the focus must shift from short-term fixes to building long-term resilience. Financial technology is helping lay that foundation — one mobile transaction, one digital loan, and one empowered farmer at a time.
