Smallholder farmers in Zambia are receiving a major boost through a new EUR 1 million loan extended to agri-fintech company Apollo Agriculture. This funding aims to significantly improve the profitability and resilience of small-scale farmers by addressing key challenges they face in accessing quality inputs, expert advice, financing, and risk mitigation tools.
Zambia’s agriculture sector is predominantly composed of smallholder farmers, many of whom rely on rain-fed farming methods and operate under uncertain and often unfavourable climatic and economic conditions. Limited access to affordable credit, certified seeds, fertilisers, and up-to-date agricultural knowledge has traditionally hindered productivity and income potential. With this new investment, efforts to overcome these constraints are accelerating, offering farmers a pathway to greater sustainability and income stability.
The financial support is geared towards enhancing Apollo Agriculture’s operations in Zambia, with a focus on maize and soya two staple crops that are widely cultivated across the country. These crops not only serve as dietary staples but also provide key income streams for rural households. Apollo’s model is built around an integrated digital platform that bundles input financing, quality farm supplies, timely agronomic advice, and insurance services, creating a comprehensive support system for smallholders.
One of the core elements of this initiative is the provision of digital advisory services. Farmers are connected to agronomic experts via mobile platforms, enabling them to receive practical, real-time guidance on planting, crop management, and harvesting. This advice is tailored to local agro-ecological conditions and farming practices, ensuring relevance and effectiveness. In addition, Apollo leverages satellite imagery and machine learning to assess farmers’ land, creditworthiness, and yield potential, streamlining the loan process and enabling data-driven decision-making.
Beyond financing and advice, farmers benefit from improved access to high-quality inputs. These include drought-resistant seeds and blended fertilisers specifically formulated to match local soil conditions. This tailored input provision is particularly critical in light of Zambia’s increasing vulnerability to climate change, including erratic rainfall patterns and prolonged dry spells. By equipping farmers with inputs that are both high-yielding and climate-resilient, the programme aims to stabilise production and mitigate the risks associated with weather variability.
Insurance is another critical pillar of Apollo’s offering. Crop insurance helps safeguard farmers against losses due to extreme weather events, such as droughts or floods, which are becoming more frequent in the region. This risk management solution not only protects livelihoods but also encourages farmers to invest more confidently in their farms, knowing they have a safety net in place.
Apollo Agriculture has already made significant strides, working with around 200 field officers and serving over 28,000 farmers in Zambia. When combined with its operations in Kenya, the company has supported more than 400,000 farmers, building a foundation for broader regional impact. By scaling its model in Zambia, Apollo aims to reach even more smallholders, driving inclusive rural growth and long-term agricultural transformation.
This initiative represents a shift in how small-scale farming is supported moving away from fragmented interventions towards integrated, tech-enabled solutions that empower farmers to become more productive, resilient, and profitable. As agricultural challenges intensify amid a changing climate, innovations like these are crucial for securing food systems and improving livelihoods across sub-Saharan Africa.
