A new agri-tech platform, HarvestCalc, officially launched its pilot in Akwa Ibom State, aiming to revolutionise Nigeria’s agricultural value chain.
It aims to connect farmers to both local and global offtakers, reducing post-harvest losses, and unlocking industrial growth through consistent raw material supply.
Speaking after the launch on Friday, Country Director, Ebele Ajaba, described HarvestCalc as “a revolutionary digital platform designed to connect farmers with global and local offtakers, reduce post-harvest losses, and unlock access to markets and raw materials.”
Ajaba said the platform was born out of first-hand experience working with smallholder farmers who “work tirelessly but still lose up to 40% of their produce due to inefficiencies in the value chain.”
The Akwa Ibom launch enrolled 500 farmers and established a local workforce, setting the tone for a broader national rollout.
“Our launch in Akwa Ibom was deliberate. This state has shown exceptional focus in meeting its agricultural targets. By onboarding 500 farmers and involving government, financial institutions, and technology partners, this event demonstrated our mission—uniting every stakeholder to unlock agriculture’s potential,” she said.
Ajaba noted that the timing was right given recent government-backed initiatives like “Produce for Lagos” and the state’s commitment to agricultural efficiency.
“This event demonstrated our mission—uniting every stakeholder to unlock agriculture’s potential.
“What sets us apart is our holistic approach. We’re not just connecting farmers; we’re building a digital backbone for Africa’s agricultural and manufacturing transformation,” Ajaba added.
She noted that the platform targets smallholder farmers, who make up over 70% of Nigeria’s agricultural workforce, but also supports commercial farms, government agencies, and manufacturers in need of raw materials.
Founder of HarvestCalc, Chigozie Ubanagu, said the Akwa Ibom pilot was about more than introducing a digital tool.
“It was the beginning of a movement to transform Nigerian agriculture,” he said.
He explained that Akwa Ibom was selected due to its agricultural potential and history of meeting development targets, noting that the state “successfully met 100% of its targets for onboarding our initial workforce and farmers.”
He added, “This was not just an event; it was a historic milestone for Nigeria — proof that with the right platform, the right partnerships, and the right people, Africa is ready to trade globally with quality, consistency, and confidence.”
According to him, HarvestCalc operates by enabling farmers to list their produce on the platform, where offtakers and processors can view and connect with available supply in real-time. It also integrates quality verification and data analytics to support government and organisational planning.
Within its first year, the team aims to onboard 50,000 farmers, reduce post-harvest losses by 20% in pilot states, and catalyse manufacturing growth through consistent raw material supply.
To reach farmers in rural areas, Ajaba said the platform employs a hybrid approach including physical onboarding via local governments, Zenith Bank touchpoints, and offline-compatible tools in local languages.
Its founder further noted that HarvestCalc secured partnerships with Zenith Bank, Care Safety Innovations (UK), and state ministries of agriculture, with the Federal Ministry of Youth Development and Federal Ministry of Agriculture backing its upcoming national launch in Abuja.
