This is the 4th post in a blog series to be published in 2024 by the APET Secretariat on behalf of the AU High-Level Panel on Emerging Technologies (APET)

Africa's socio-economic development and growth are significantly reliant on the agricultural sector. In the context of African agriculture, smallholder farmers play an important role in securing the continent’s food supply. Over 23% of Africa's GDP stems from smallholder farming, which employs more than 60% of the continent’s population, responsible for 80% of the food produced in the region.[1] The importance of agriculture is highlighted in the African Union’s (AU) Agenda 2063, the continent’s development Blueprint, which emphasises the important role of agriculture in playing a vital role in advancing economic development, reducing poverty, and improving food security. Agenda 2063 particularly notes that to meet rising food demands, Africa must double its agricultural production, eradicate food waste, and establish efficient and sustainable food systems by 2050.

One important challenge which often places them out of reach for most smallholder farmers is the high cost of farm inputs, which makes it difficult for farmers to access adequate farm inputs. In response, African governments introduced input subsidies aimed at making improved seeds and organic fertilisers more accessible and affordable to farmers.[2]  Farm subsidies are government initiatives to support farmers by providing essential agricultural inputs such as seeds, fertilisers, pesticides, machinery, or other necessary supplies at reduced costs.[3]

The purpose of government subsidies in smallholder farming is to improve food self-sufficiency by enhancing access to and utilisation of improved agricultural inputs, and consequently increasing the incomes of farmers, thereby enhancing farm productivity.[4] The landscape shifted considerably in the early 2000s following the discontinuation of input subsidy programmes during the 1980s and 1990s. By 2010, several AU Member States had reintroduced subsidies in response to previous challenges and shortcomings, thereby launching a fresh round of initiatives to improve agricultural performance.[5]

APET notes that traditional input subsidy programmes within AU Member States are often plagued by operational challenges and inefficiencies and fraudulent practices. [6]  Hence, it is imperative to establish a system capable of storing beneficiary information and tracking the services provided, thereby facilitating the monitoring of progress and measurement of the impact of input subsidy programmes in AU Member States. 

The African Union High-Level Panel on Emerging Technologies (APET) opines that emerging agricultural technologies can support smallholder farmers to reach their full potential in a cost-effective manner through the adoption of emerging technologies relevant for agriculture. The implementation of emerging technologies such as biometric systems offer the advantage of transforming the sector into a viable economic initiative and a means of accelerating agricultural development.

The potential benefits of biometric technology in enhancing farm input subsidy programmes in Africa are substantial, emphasising the importance of strategic planning and responsible data management to maximise its impact on smallholder farmers.[7] APET highlights that incorporating and improving farm input subsidy delivery through biometric systems, for example, can enhance Africa's food security by addressing the challenges faced by traditional subsidy programmes. Biometric verification, using methods such as fingerprints or iris scans, can enhance targeting by ensuring subsidies reach the intended smallholder farmers. Ghana, for example, successfully piloted an iris scan programme for cocoa farmers, which resulted in a significant reduction in fraud. Furthermore, biometric systems offer improved transparency through real-time data collection, through automating processes such as registration and verification to save time and resources.[8] Examples from Malawi, and Nigeria further demonstrate the potential of biometric technology in improving subsidy programmes.  Farmers benefit from faster access to inputs, reduced risk of exclusion, and increased trust in programme effectiveness.[9] Case studies highlight the effectiveness of biometric technology in enhancing subsidy programmes in Africa. For example, a collaboration between Mastercard and the World Food Programme in Ghana from 2015 to 2017 used iris scans to authenticate cocoa farmers receiving fertiliser subsidies.[10] This research demonstrated a substantial decrease in fraud, potentially saving millions by eliminating ineligible participants.[11] Similarly, in Nigeria, the International Food Policy Research Institute's partnership with local institutions to test biometric registration for farmers accessing subsidised seeds and fertilisers aims to evaluate its potential in curtailing fraud and improving programme efficiency. Consequently, technology-led agriculture plays a crucial role in sustaining food security, increasing employment, improving rural livelihoods, in alignment with the goals of the Agenda 2063.

Private sector organisations such as Cellulant in Kenya and Trustee in South Africa offer biometric registration and verification solutions for agriculture. These solutions promise to streamline procedures and bolster security within farm subsidy programmes. The impact of these innovations has led to improved targeting, as seen in Ghana’s cocoa sector, where biometric data linked to land ownership records ensures subsidies reach smallholder farmers, improving agricultural productivity and livelihoods. Furthermore, these technologies have reduced transaction times, as farmers in pilot programmes using iris scans no longer need to travel long distances to collect physical documents. Real-time data from biometric verification also enhances transparency in subsidy distribution, thereby fostering accountability and reducing corruption risks.

While biometric authentication shows great promise in strengthening farm subsidy programmes in Africa, ongoing research, innovation, and the implementation of responsible data management systems are essential. These efforts are crucial for maximising the benefits of biometric technology for smallholder farmers and advancing agricultural development across the continent. To further the adoption of biometric systems for farm subsidy and inputs in AU Member States, several policy and strategic recommendations can be implemented. Particularly, African governments should establish comprehensive national biometric identity (ID) registration programmes tailored for farmers, similar to Nigeria’s farmer’s ID registration programme under the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme. This initiative effectively identifies and registers farmers, enabling targeted distribution of subsidies and inputs to those in need, thereby improving efficiency. Additionally, integrating biometric data with farm GPS coordinates would enhance effectiveness by accurately estimating land sizes and locations, optimising agricultural budgets, and ensuring fair subsidy distribution.[12]

AU Member States are also encouraged to ensure timely and predictable subsidy payments through biometric systems to allow farmers to plan their activities with certainty, ultimately boosting productivity. Additionally, investing in capacity building and training programmes for farmers and officials on biometric technology usage is crucial. AU governments can also consider public-private partnerships to facilitate technology adoption. Furthermore, robust data security and privacy regulations are essential to protect farmers' biometric data, enhancing trust in the systems. APET recommends that government ministries establish monitoring and evaluation frameworks to enable countries to assess the impact of biometric systems on food security and agricultural productivity and identify areas for improvement. APET asserts that by implementing these recommendations, AU Member States can leverage biometric systems to improve subsidy programmes, thereby ensuring enhanced food security and efficiency for the continent's future.

 

 

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[1] https://www.ifad.org/thefieldreport/#:~:text=Smallholder%20farmers%20grow%20the%20food,Africa%20and%20parts%20of%20Asia.

[2] https://www.fao.org/3/i6583e/i6583e.pdf

[3] https://ebrary.ifpri.org/utils/getfile/collection/p15738coll2/id/124970/filename/124971.pdf

[4] https://www.ifpri.org/publication/impacts-agricultural-input-subsidies-malawi

[5] Solomon Asfaw, Andrea Cattaneo, Giacomo Pallante, Alessandro Palma, Improving the efficiency targeting of Malawi's farm input subsidy programme: Big pain, small gain?, Food Policy, Volume 73, 2017, Pages 104-118, ISSN 0306-9192, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2017.09.004.

[6] https://www.oecd.org/derec/49231998.pdf

[7] https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/computer-science/biometric-technology

[8] https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/iris-recognition-market-141994093.html?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw5ImwBhBtEiwAFHDZx1V4Wp57wtX7v2vtQvPGq7IilpCSva6t0foheg7AtBDR28SKQOQ8UxoCPisQAvD_BwE

[9] Yeboah, Eric & Balcombe, Kelvin & Asante, Bright & Prah, Stephen & Aidoo, Robert. (2023). Does participation in innovation platform improve welfare? Insights from smallholder maize farmers in Ghana. African Journal of Science Technology Innovation and Development. 10.1080/20421338.2023.2286709

[10] https://www.wfp.org/news/world-food-programme-uses-innovative-iris-scan-technology-provide-food-assistance-

[11] https://projectsportal.afdb.org/dataportal/VProject/show/P-GH-AA0-024

[12] https://ecdpm.org/application/files/5517/0254/4789/Digital-ID-systems-in-Africa-ECDPM-Discussion-Paper-360-2023.pdf