NEC and IFAD Join Forces to Boost African Smallholder Farmers with Digital Tools

In a landmark step to accelerate agricultural innovation and rural development in Africa, NEC Corporation (NEC; TSE: 6701) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) have signed a letter of intent to deploy advanced digital technologies designed for small-scale producers. The agreement was formalised on the margins of the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9), highlighting Japan’s growing role in promoting sustainable agricultural transformation on the continent.

Supporting the Backbone of Global Food Systems

Small-scale producers make up more than 80 per cent of farms worldwide and are indispensable for global food security and rural livelihoods. Despite their importance, millions of smallholders lack access to modern agricultural advisory services, financial tools, and climate-smart technologies that would enable them to withstand shocks such as erratic weather, market volatility, and rising input costs.

By combining IFAD’s experience in rural development with NEC’s digital expertise, the new partnership aims to enhance farm productivity, strengthen climate resilience, and create new economic opportunities for vulnerable farming communities.

Piloting Digital Innovations: CropScope and e-Voucher

Two of NEC’s flagship agricultural technologies will be at the heart of the collaboration:

• CropScope – A digital agriculture platform that uses remote sensing, big data, and AI-driven insights to promote precision farming. CropScope enables real-time monitoring of crops, helps farmers optimise water and fertiliser use, and supports decision-makers in farm and value chain management.

• e-Voucher – A secure, digital voucher system designed to streamline access to agricultural inputs and subsidies. By improving targeting and efficiency, it ensures that fertilisers, seeds, and other inputs reach the farmers who need them most.

These tools will first be piloted within IFAD’s investment portfolio, with the potential for wider adoption across other projects once proven successful.

Leaders Highlight Benefits of Digital Agriculture

Alvaro Lario, President of IFAD, stressed the importance of leveraging technology for inclusive growth:

“Scaling up digital public infrastructure with scalable digital services for rural development is key to boosting rural economies, creating new opportunities and raising incomes for millions of vulnerable producers. Addressing these persistent challenges is critical for achieving rural transformation, a core objective of IFAD.”

Shigehiro Tanaka, Corporate Senior Executive Vice President of NEC, said the partnership reflects TICAD9’s emphasis on innovation:

“We are pleased to deepen our collaboration with IFAD toward the development of the African region through NEC’s strengths in digital agricultural solutions. The initiatives under this Letter of Intent directly reflect TICAD9’s objectives, and we look forward to further strengthening this partnership.”

Alignment with IFAD’s ICT4D Strategy

The partnership aligns with IFAD’s Information and Communication Technologies for Development (ICT4D) Strategy (2020–2030), which seeks to harness digital innovation to tackle poverty and food insecurity in rural areas. The collaboration will:

• Accelerate digital transformation across IFAD’s programmes.

• Pilot cost-effective, scalable technologies for future replication.

• Enhance data-driven monitoring and adaptive management of rural development initiatives.

• Strengthen public–private partnerships by involving global technology leaders in smallholder-focused solutions.

Toward Climate Resilient and Inclusive Growth

Africa’s farmers are on the frontline of climate change, facing droughts, floods, and soil degradation. By integrating remote sensing, precision agriculture, and digital financial solutions, the NEC–IFAD partnership seeks to make farming both more resilient and more profitable.

Experts say the initiative could serve as a model for other regions, showing how advanced digital platforms can empower rural communities, boost food security, and open new market opportunities while advancing global sustainability goals.