Why African agri-tech keeps failing, and what open-source changes

▤ Summary

The article argues that African agri-tech has failed because companies keep rebuilding the same core infrastructure in silos. It presents AgriOS, an open-source ERP for African agri-SMEs, as a shared foundation designed to reduce vendor lock-in and improve local customization. The piece uses examples like iProcure and Fieldy to show how centralized ownership can cause promising technology to disappear when a company runs out of cash. It also highlights early proof points from Akeyo Africa and interest from downstream capital providers and buyers who want more legible, standardized agri-data. The core message is that open infrastructure can help the sector scale faster while keeping revenue and adaptation work local.

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