The Implication of Change
It is a well-known old wives’ tale in Nigerian that your cooking gas and other supplies often finish at the most ill-conceived time, making sure that you have to jump through hoops just to restock. This is a story of one such time. Today, after a long day of meetings and deadlines, I finally decided […]
The Unbanked Angle
Across most African countries trade is mainly conducted using physical currency due to factors such as low literacy and digital adoption rates, and as a result of this, any changes to the currency of their countries have far-reaching implications for farmers. At the turn of the year, Coamana’s Amana Market has seen a significant decline […]
Together We Thrive
Smallholder farmers are already experiencing the impacts of rising temperatures, unpredictable rainfall and extreme weather events on crop yields, pest and disease incidence, income generation and food security. They are one of the most vulnerable groups to climate change. Since the majority of smallholder farmers in Africa depend entirely on rain-fed agriculture, they are vulnerable […]
A Farmer and You
In the course of our daily life, we often make decisions that have farther-reaching impacts than we realise. Take for instance your weekly trip to the market to restock fresh vegetables or your quick stop at the supermarket after work to buy eggs or milk for breakfast the next morning. These seemingly simple actions connect […]
The Value of Access
For smallholder farmers, the importance of market access cannot be overemphasised. For them, access to reliable markets means a boost in productivity, income and food security. Market access greatly contributes to a reduction in poverty and hunger in communities whose primary source of income is agriculture. In many rural agricultural communities across Africa, you find […]
Why Trust?
A man walks to a stall in the market, he purchases foodstuff he expects to last his family the whole month and realizes he needs more cash. Leaving his goods there, he tells the trader he will be right back. He walks off leaving his goods and cash with the trader. He is not concerned […]
Building Trust with Users of New Digital Solutions
Trust, a psychological state comprised of real or perceived vulnerability and openness with another person or entity in anticipation of a positive outcome is imperative when introducing new technology in any niche. Particularly, to end users not familiar with adapting to technological innovations or end users unwilling to change from the current processes and protocols […]
Beyond the Physical
An often overlooked aspect of maintaining a successful and efficient organization is work culture. Company culture goes beyond what can be perceived externally, such as: accolades, dress codes, and even PR; but rather it shows in the everyday routines and behaviors of individual employees in the workplace and in how they relate to their fellow […]
Financial Solutions to Social Problems
In my short time at CoAmana, I have come to realize that a common theme is unlearning and relearning. Anybody from a financial background reading this will understand how hard it is to let go of all the rules, expectations and viewpoints that have come to be a crucial part of us. Before joining CoAmana […]
Trust: Because We Kept Showing Up
Even though Halima was not present for the CSA day in Abuja in 2021, she told me how excited she was about the success of the event and how she hoped to attend one in the future. When describing the event, she said, “We are happy that our company is growing and we trust that it will be better for us all.”