A Nigerian agritech startup, Kadara Agric, is betting on technology-driven solutions to tackle food insecurity, farmer poverty, and volatile prices in Africa’s agricultural sector.
The company, launched in 2025 by entrepreneur Hakeem Disu, seeks to shift smallholder farming from subsistence to profitability by introducing modern tools such as greenhouses, smart irrigation, and precision agriculture.
“Our mission is to help farmers increase yields, minimize waste, and truly profit from their labour,” Disu disclosed this. “At its core, it’s about transforming farming from a daily struggle into a source of pride, opportunity, and long-term sustainability.”
How Kadara Agric Was Founded
Kadara Agric was born out of Disu’s observation of the persistent struggles of Nigerian farmers, despite their hard work.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), over 70 percent of Nigeria’s workforce is engaged in agriculture, yet the sector contributes just around 24 percent to GDP, a sign of deep inefficiencies.
Disu, who had spent time working closely with farming communities, saw firsthand how farmers were trapped in cycles of low yields, post-harvest losses, and poor market access.
“Their challenge was never about effort,” he said. “It was about the lack of access to the right tools, modern practices, and fair markets.”
Kadara Agric was founded in early 2025 as a bridge between traditional farming practices and the modern innovations reshaping agriculture globally.
What Kadara Agric Does
The startup describes itself as a precision agriculture services company, offering end-to-end solutions for farmers. Beyond simply supplying agricultural inputs, Kadara Agric combines access to modern farming systems with advisory services and market linkages.
Its services range from setting up greenhouses that extend growing seasons, to smart irrigation systems that optimize water use, to precision farming tools that use data to guide decisions on soil health, pest control, and planting cycles.
At its core, the company promotes sustainability by emphasizing organic farming and climate-smart practices.
This holistic approach reflects Kadara’s goal of building resilience against climate shocks that often devastate Nigerian smallholder farmers.
Farmer-Centred Projects
Kadara Agric’s pilot projects highlight its farmer-first philosophy. The company works with cooperatives and individual farmers to customize solutions, whether in open fields, greenhouses, or controlled urban farms.
Early results are promising: farmers using Kadara’s greenhouse and irrigation solutions were able to keep producing crops like tomatoes, peppers, and vegetables even during the dry season, when such produce typically becomes scarce and expensive.
This meant not only higher yields but also the ability to sell at peak prices.
“When farmers see the benefits of higher yields, reduced waste, and the ability to grow even in the dry season, they become strong advocates for our solutions,” Disu said.
By demonstrating tangible results, Kadara Agric is building trust among traditionally cautious farmers who have been wary of adopting new methods.
What Makes Them Unique
Kadara Agric differentiates itself by tackling three interconnected challenges simultaneously, food security, farmer prosperity, and price stability.
In Nigeria, seasonal scarcity often pushes food inflation to crisis levels, with the National Bureau of Statistics reporting food inflation at 33.9 percent in August 2024.
Kadara’s approach ensures year-round production, reducing scarcity and stabilizing prices.
On the farmer side, direct access to retailers cuts out middlemen, allowing producers to capture more value.
“Our strength is in providing sustainable solutions that make farming profitable for farmers and keep food affordable for the average household,” Disu explained.
This dual focus, benefiting both producers and consumers, is what the startup sees as its competitive advantage.
Milestones So Far
Although still in its infancy, Kadara Agric has recorded encouraging adoption rates among farmers and cooperatives. The company is currently funded through a mix of personal capital, early partnerships, and revenues generated from its pilot installations.
Its early adopters report being able to extend their growing seasons and reduce post-harvest losses, a major issue that causes Nigeria to lose an estimated 40 percent of its food production annually according to the FAO.
On the demand side, retailers and urban buyers have shown interest in Kadara’s model because it promises steady supply and fairer prices, a vital factor in a country where food availability can fluctuate sharply between seasons.
The combination of supply reliability and income growth for farmers has been one of Kadara’s strongest selling points so far.
Kadara Agric and the Youth Angle
Kadara Agric is also placing a big bet on Nigeria’s youth. With over 60 percent of the population under 25, the country has one of the world’s largest youth populations, yet agriculture is often seen as unattractive, outdated, or a “last resort” occupation.
Through the introduction of technology, urban farming models, and profit-driven practices, Kadara hopes to change this perception.
“We’re showing that farming is no longer restricted to rural villages, it can be done conveniently in urban environments, even from the comfort of one’s home,” Disu said.
Through greenhouse and vertical farming initiatives in cities, the startup aims to draw in a new generation of “agropreneurs” who can see farming not as drudgery but as a business opportunity and a modern, tech-enabled career path.
The Big Picture: Plans for the Future
Kadara Agric’s ambitions stretch far beyond its pilot projects. The company aims to expand across Africa, with a strategy of decentralizing food production by bringing farming into urban centres.
Drawing inspiration from global leaders in greenhouse farming such as the Netherlands, Kadara envisions a future where perishable, high-value crops like bell peppers and leafy vegetables are grown closer to consumers, while rural areas specialize in larger cash crops like cocoa and oil palm.
This model could dramatically cut Africa’s reliance on imports, which cost the continent over $35 billion annually in food purchases, according to the African Development Bank.
“By decentralizing food production, we can ensure that every African community is able to sustainably feed itself, reducing reliance on long-distance supply chains and costly imports,” Disu said.
Talking Point
Kadara Agric’s model is ambitious and refreshing, but its success will hinge on how well it can scale in a country where infrastructure gaps, financing hurdles, and cultural resistance to new farming methods remain stubborn challenges.
While the promise of using greenhouses, smart irrigation, and precision farming to stabilize prices and boost yields is compelling, the reality is that many Nigerian farmers still struggle with basic access to electricity, affordable credit, and reliable transport to markets.
This raises questions about whether Kadara’s tech-heavy solutions can truly penetrate beyond early adopters and pilot projects into the broader farming population that needs it most.
Moreover, while the youth-focused narrative is attractive, agriculture has long struggled with image problems among young Nigerians, and changing that perception will require more than innovation, it will demand strong policy support, incentives, and proof of consistent profitability.
Still, if Kadara Agric can navigate these hurdles and demonstrate measurable impact at scale, it could represent one of the more practical pathways toward addressing Nigeria’s persistent food security crisis.
