eMsika Announces Expansion to Four African Markets with FarmHouse App for Poultry Farmers

Zambian startup eMsika, an innovative agri-tech company, is set to expand into four new markets after seeing strong adoption of its digital platform and physical store tailored for poultry farmers.

Founded in 2016 by Gilbert Mwale and Elton Chirwa, eMsika offers poultry and livestock farmers easy access to essential farm inputs such as chicks, feed, and vaccines, as well as on-farm support through its FarmHouse app.

"We identified a significant gap in the market for accessible and user-friendly digital solutions tailored specifically to smallholder poultry and livestock farmers," Mwale told Disrupt Africa. He noted that while other agricultural technology companies exist, FarmHouse sets itself apart by providing comprehensive on-farm technical advice and high-quality farm inputs aimed at smallholder farmers in urban areas.

The FarmHouse app allows farmers to access training, necessary inputs, and connect with other farmers. Recently, eMsika launched a farmer membership program called FarmHouse Plus and established a physical store in partnership with multinational suppliers.

To date, the app has around 2,000 downloads and has trained 8,000 farmers online. eMsika is planning to expand into Tanzania, Nigeria, Egypt, and Zimbabwe, focusing on its Poultry Manager feature, and is actively seeking partners for this expansion.

Source: Tom Jackson / Disrupt Africa