Africa | FinTech
Hiveonline’s digital platform enhances cooperative farming and financial inclusion in Kenya
In Kenya, smallholder farmers—especially women and youth—face significant challenges in accessing financial services, markets, and sustainable farming knowledge. Many operate informally, without the records or collateral needed to secure loans, and often rely on subsistence farming to survive.
Hiveonline’s approach
Hiveonline, a Danish social enterprise, addressed these barriers by rolling out its digital platform, myCoop.online, across Bungoma and Nakuru counties. The platform enables farmer groups to manage their operations digitally—from crop planning and cooperative governance to financial record-keeping and market access. It also supports mobile money transactions and remote lending, even for farmers without smartphones.
The role of Rabo Foundation
Thanks to support from Rabo Foundation, Hiveonline was able to scale its solution to over 47,000 farmers—exceeding its original target. The funding enabled key platform upgrades, training programs, and partnerships with financial institutions like Kingdom Bank and Choice Bank. These collaborations have already led to hundreds of new bank accounts and the first wave of loan approvals.
“The project demonstrates how digital solutions—when co-created with communities and supported by visionary funders like Rabo Foundation—can unlock new pathways to prosperity for smallholder farmers”
The impact
The results are promising. Farmers are reporting better prices, improved yields, and a shift from subsistence to commercial farming. Nearly all trained farmers have adopted at least one carbon-neutral practice, supported by climate-smart agriculture modules built into the app.
Lessons learned
Working directly with local governments proved more sustainable than relying on NGOs. Financial institutions, while cautious, are beginning to see the value of digital records in assessing creditworthiness. Combining digital tools with in-person training has helped bridge gaps in literacy and trust.
The importance of innovation
Hiveonline’s success underscores the transformative power of innovation in development. By blending blockchain technology, mobile money, and climate-smart agriculture into a single platform, Hiveonline has created a scalable model for inclusive growth.