Agri-tech firm Farm Central Intelligence wins AFEX Code Cash Crop 4.0 Ag-hackathon
Farm Central Intelligence, an agri-tech startup, has won this year’s AFEX Code Cash Crop 4.0 Ag-hackathon. The firm, which aims to create a large library of agricultural information that can be accessible by a smartphone app, WhatsApp chatbot, or USSD platform, beat out five other candidates to win the $10,000 grand prize. Kenyan MCHE and Silo Africa came in second and third place, receiving $5,000 and $3,000, respectively.
Following AFEX’s operational expansion into the East African country last year, Kenya participated in this year’s edition for the first time. The big finale, which took place over the weekend in Lagos, Nigeria, yielded three victors.
Themed ‘Scaling Market-led Solutions,’ this year’s Ag-hackathon, which received over 100 applications over a 3-month period, brought together the most daring and inventive solutions that addressed gaps across Africa’s agriculture value chain in data, logistics, and extension services. These were reduced to the top 25 candidates, after which boot camps were held in three African cities to choose the finalists, who then convened in Lagos for the final boot camp and live-pitch sessions with judges.
Throughout the challenge, four primary metrics were used to pick winners: viability, profitability, scalability, and practicality of each idea. In between pitches, the event featured panel discussions with industry experts such as Associate Dean of Lagos Business School, Professor Yinka David-West, Co-Founder of GetEquity, Jude Dike, and others, who shared ideas on significant issues spanning Agriculture, Technology, and Finance.
Akinyinka Akintunde, President of AFEX Nigeria, stated at this year’s finals, “With Code Cash Crop, we remain dogged in our mission to provide a platform for young talents to create custom-fit models for the everyday and emerging Agricultural market realities.” AFEX will continue to organize Code Cash Crop in order to empower more young people to think creatively about agriculture, as well as to deploy financial and mentoring resources to inspire them to alter Africa’s food systems through technological innovations. This year, we’ve had the privilege of examining thoughtful applications and interacting with really bright minds. As a result, we are delighted to announce our remarkable blend of Nigerian and Kenyan winners, as determined by our stellar panel.”
Mr Yakubu, founder of Farm Central Intelligence, commented on the win, saying, “Winning CCC 4.0 is a life-changing opportunity for me as an entrepreneur, and I would like to say ‘thank you’ to AFEX and its partners for the initiative.” I’m particularly appreciative for the helpful comments I received during boot camp, which helped me better my solution. I’m excited to use the prize money and networking possibilities from this competition to grow my business and make my ambitions a reality.”
Code Cash Crop is an industry event that brings together innovators from agriculture, finance, and technology to solve problems in Africa’s food systems. AFEX’s yearly challenge provides young digital talent and entrepreneurs in Nigeria and Kenya with the resources they need to establish lucrative agribusiness models, fulfilling its commitment to investing in Africa’s future.
