Synnefa

Kenya | Humanitarian, Mapping and weather alerts

The company

Synnefa is a smart farming company that provides holistic hardware and software solutions for smallholder farmers to increase yields and productivity while reducing risk.

Problem

For smallholder farmers, a lack of accurate and timely data leads to low crop yields and greater vulnerability to humanitarian crises. Farmers often have limited access to resources and are disproportionately affected by climate change.

GSMA project

In November 2023, Synnefa received a GSMA grant to incorporate satellite imagery in its farm management platform, FarmCloud, to offer real-time data on crop health and weather patterns. The grant also allowed Synnefa to create a USSD-based interface for smallholder farmers who do not have access to smartphones or high-speed internet.

Outcomes

Successfully tested and validated the FarmCloud satellite service in Makueni and Kitui counties to ensure it meets the needs of farmers and provides accurate and actionable information. The solution is now ready to be scaled across Kenya and Rwanda.

Traction

• As of March 2025, more than 3,000 farmers use FarmCloud satellite services via USSD, ensuring access for non-smartphone users.

• Received funding from the Efficiency for Access Coalition to advance clean energy agricultural technologies and enhance post-harvest resilience and productivity.

A message from the founder

“Solving for humanitarian action is going to be a long game, it will need partners that understand the value of creating change through partnerships and we are excited to have partnered with the GSMA to use satellite technology to secure the futures of farmers in Africa.”

– Taita Ngetich, Founder and CEO