dfcu Bank, Mastercard,  Rabo partner to digitise Uganda’s agricultural ecosystem

dfcu Bank, Mastercard, and Rabo Partnerships have announced a strategic partnership aimed at digitalizing the agricultural ecosystem in Uganda.

This collaboration aims to uplift smallholder farmers and other agricultural value chain actors by enhancing their access to markets and credit, thereby improving their livelihoods.

Currently, farmers and other actors in the agricultural sector face numerous challenges within the manual, cash-based ecosystem in which they operate.

Due to limited access to markets and a lack of financial history, farmers often struggle to obtain fair pricing and secure credit. Additionally, cooperatives and off takers are impeded by inefficiencies and a lack of transparency.

To address these critical issues, Mastercard, dfcu Bank and Rabo Partnerships are joining forces to provide the innovative Farm Pass platform and tailored financial services to Uganda’s agricultural ecosystem.

“We are excited to leverage the digital tools and expertise provided by this partnership to drive financial inclusion among underserved segments in Uganda,” said Charles Mudiwa, Chief Executive Officer, and Managing Director of dfcu Bank.

“We are excited to contribute our expertise and commitment to driving financial inclusion in agriculture,” said David Gerbrands, Global Head of Agri and Banking advisory services and Inclusive Business Ventures at Rabo Partnerships.

By registering on the platform through a network of agents, farmers will gain access to increased buyer opportunities for their crops and fit-for-purpose credit products that enhance productivity and income.

dfcu Bank, equipped with digital tools, processes, and insights, will extend financial services to farmers and farmer organizations that were previously difficult to reach, thanks to the power of digitization.

Farm Pass is built upon Mastercard’s acclaimed Community Pass platform, an interoperable digital platform that seeks to provide access to critical services to underserved, remote, and frequently offline communities.

Consequently, with a common digital identity, these communities can benefit from services in areas including health, education, and commerce, using the same technology.

“Our collaboration with dfcu Bank and Rabo Partnerships will deepen our engagement with millions of farmers in Uganda,” said Daniel Huba, Vice President of Sub-Saharan Africa Market Development for Community Pass at Mastercard.