Kenya has emerged as the clear leader in Africa for digital agricultural payments, outpacing regional and global averages by a wide margin. According to fresh figures from the World Bank’s 2024 Global Findex Database, a record 71% of Kenyan adults who received agricultural payments this year got their money through digital platforms—mostly mobile money services like M-Pesa.
This development marks a significant milestone for Kenya’s rural economy, where farmers are increasingly able to access and manage funds without relying on physical cash. The shift is largely driven by the widespread use of mobile phones, well-established mobile money agent networks, and progressive government policies that support financial innovation.
In comparison, digital uptake in agricultural payments across Sub-Saharan Africa remains much lower. On average, just 30% of adults in the region received farm-related payments, with only a quarter of those using formal accounts or mobile money. Kenya’s performance is therefore more than double the regional average, positioning the country as a model for digital financial inclusion in rural communities.
Senegal follows Kenya at 63% digital adoption in agricultural payments, while Nigeria—Africa’s most populous country—has made notable progress by doubling its share to 33% in 2024. Uganda, despite having a strong mobile money ecosystem, still relies heavily on cash and informal channels for most farm-related transactions.
Globally, the use of digital channels for farm payments is even more limited. The Findex data shows that in low- and middle-income countries, only 4% of adults received agricultural payments through a bank or mobile account in 2023. This underlines how far ahead Kenya is in the global push to digitise rural incomes.
Analysts say Kenya’s success is anchored in a combination of key enablers. Almost every adult in Kenya owns a mobile phone, and mobile network coverage extends to most rural areas. Furthermore, mobile money agents are available even in remote villages, providing a trusted channel for cash-in and cash-out transactions. The government has also supported mobile financial services by promoting policies that reduce costs, encourage innovation, and protect users.
These efforts have transformed how Kenyan farmers operate. Instead of waiting for middlemen or travelling long distances to collect payments, farmers can now receive money instantly on their phones. They can also use their mobile wallets to buy seeds, fertiliser, and other farming inputs or to save and budget for future needs.
However, the Findex report cautions that the journey towards full financial inclusion is far from over. In most African countries, cash is still the dominant form of payment in the agriculture sector. This is due to limited access to digital infrastructure, low trust in formal financial systems, and the high cost of mobile services in some regions.
The report suggests that more investment is needed to improve mobile and internet connectivity, especially in rural areas. It also calls for greater efforts to build user trust through financial education and by strengthening consumer protection in digital payments. Without these improvements, many farmers across Africa will remain excluded from the benefits of digital finance.
Despite these challenges, Kenya’s example shows what is possible when the right mix of technology, regulation, and outreach is applied. By turning mobile phones into financial tools, the country has not only improved the efficiency of agricultural transactions but also brought millions of small-scale farmers into the formal economy.
As digital payment systems continue to evolve, Kenya’s model is likely to influence policy discussions across the continent. Many African governments are watching closely, hoping to replicate the success by adapting similar mobile-led strategies to modernise their own agricultural economies.
