News in brief:
– Anyfarm app has been endorsed by Carbon Standard International to help African farmers improve farm management and earn carbon credits through sustainable practices.
– The app, built by Airsmat Inc, aims to connect smallholder farmers to carbon markets.
Anyfarm app has been officially endorsed by Carbon Standard International, according to an announcement on X by AirSmat Inc boss, Soji Sanyaolu.
The mobile application, available on Play Store and App Store, offers farmers a ‘comprehensive solution’ to farm activities. With features like farm record keeping, asset management, sales tracking, and financial management, users can make informed decisions, increase productivity, and improve their livelihoods.
Additionally, registered farms can earn carbon credits and acheive traceability, which makes it possible to access more markets. It helps farmers monitor, report and verify carbon reduction activities.
The sales page makes it clear that farmers in Africa are the target market but the company is also eyeing globalisation.
“This isn’t just an endorsement; it’s a powerful validation of our unwavering commitment to empowering African farmers in the fight against climate change,” Sanyaolu said about Carbon Standard International’s seal of approval.
“By joining forces with Carbon Standard International, the AnyFarm App is now at the forefront of a global movement dedicated to ensuring that carbon sequestration is both impactful and transparent,” he added.
The international company typically certifies the climate performance of companies after auditing it. It also offers advisory and tools for companies to improve their carbon cycles.
With climate certificates from Carbon Standard International, a company like Airsmat can obtain financial recognition for their climate services from third parties. In turn, farmers who are registered on the Anyfarm App can benefit.
Carbon credits are typically permits that some companies obtain to emit a certain amount of carbon dioxide. They buy these from producers who are putting in the work to reduce carbon in the environment through tree planting or cover cropping, improving soil health through sustainable farming, or reducing cattle herds to cut down livestock methane emissions.
Some of the activities mentioned above are easily executable by farmers, but the challenge is linking smallholder African farmers to companies looking to buy carbon credits.
Recognising this gap multilateral development finance institutions like the World Bank and African Development Bank Group (AfDB) have been working to build systems that makes it easier for rural farmers to benefit from the carbon market.
