Smallholders produce a large share of food in Africa, yet they often lack timely advice, affordable finance, reliable inputs and fair market access. Digital tools offer ways to close those gaps, but feature phones, patchy connectivity, low digital literacy and thin margins mean that poorly planned projects reach few people and rarely survive.

This advanced programme is aimed at those who decide what to build, buy, fund or partner on. It begins with the smallholder context and a map of the digital service categories now available, comparing what each can realistically deliver. Participants then work on user-centred design, inclusion of women and youth, and the choice of channels such as voice, SMS, USSD, apps and agent networks. Later sessions turn to sustainability: pricing and revenue models, bundling services, partnerships, regulation, data ownership, consent and cybersecurity. The programme closes with measurement of adoption and impact and with scaling strategy.

Learning is strategic and case based. Delegates dissect real-style initiatives, test business models in groups, rank technology options against explicit criteria and prepare a digital agriculture strategy note for their own organisation to take home and develop further.

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Evaluate the main categories of digital agriculture solutions and their fit for smallholder needs.
• Apply user research and inclusive design methods to shape farmer-centred services.
• Select suitable channels, devices and delivery partners for different farmer segments.
• Construct sustainable business and revenue models beyond donor funding.
• Establish data governance, consent and cybersecurity practices for farmer data.
• Define adoption, usage and impact indicators for digital services.
• Formulate a scaling and partnership strategy with clear investment criteria.

The programme is for leaders and managers who set direction for digital agriculture initiatives, including:

• Directors and managers of agribusinesses and out-grower schemes
• Senior officers in ministries and county departments of agriculture
• Cooperative, union and farmer organisation executives
• Programme directors in NGOs and development agencies
• Agritech founders and product managers
• Bank, microfinance and mobile network operator product heads
• Impact investors and fund managers in food and agriculture
• Researchers and advisers on digital extension and innovation

Participants leave with:

• A scoring matrix for comparing digital agriculture options against farmer needs.
• A completed business model canvas for a smallholder service.
• An inclusion checklist covering gender, age, language and literacy.
• A farmer data policy outline addressing consent, sharing and security.
• An indicator set for tracking adoption, usage and income effects.
• A draft strategy note and scaling roadmap for their organisation.

The format suits experienced decision makers and relies on analysis and debate. It features:

• Case dissections of digital agriculture initiatives, successes and failures
• Design sprints focused on a defined smallholder segment
• Business model canvases challenged by peer panels
• Criteria-based scoring of competing technology proposals
• Individual coaching on the strategy note delegates produce

Vision Reach Global Consultancy awards a CPD-accredited Certificate of Completion to delegates who attend all sessions and present their strategy note at the end of the programme.