Safaricom Rolls Out Bundle Ya Wakulima to Boost Farmers’ Productivity and Food Security

Farmers in Meru County are set to access a range of connectivity, insurance and agricultural support services through Safaricom’s newly launched Bundle Ya Wakulima.

The integrated package was unveiled during a farmer engagement forum in Meru attended by more than 500 farmers. The initiative is available to farmers across Kenya and brings several services together under one package.

Safaricom Chief Consumer Business Officer Fawzia Ali said Meru was an important agricultural region and that supporting farmers was central to strengthening Kenya’s food security.

“Meru is one of Kenya’s agricultural powerhouses, and supporting farmers is critical to strengthening food security,” Ali said.

Bundle Ya Wakulima combines voice calls, mobile data, SMS and WhatsApp access with agricultural insurance, advisory services and production support. Farmers can also access discounts on farm inputs and mechanisation services, while eligible users can access credit pathways through DigiFarm.

The package is offered through Safaricom’s PATA MORE customer value proposition and comes in different durations to accommodate farmers with varying needs and production cycles.

The daily package costs Sh40 and provides 250MB of data, 20 minutes and free WhatsApp access. A weekly package costs Sh300 and includes 1.5GB of data and 100 minutes, together with Tunza Mapato insurance, farm input discounts, agricultural advisory services and access to a WhatsApp Farming Companion.

The Tunza Mapato cover included in the weekly and longer packages provides Sh30,000 for inpatient treatment and Sh100,000 in funeral expenses. Farmers subscribing to the monthly package at Sh1,200 receive 7.5GB of data and 500 minutes.

Longer-term options include a 90-day package costing Sh3,500, with 25GB of data and 1,500 minutes, and a six-month package costing Sh6,500, offering 56GB and 3,000 minutes.

The agricultural component also gives farmers access to Seeds of Gold advisory services, which can provide farming information and guidance, while discounts on inputs and mechanisation are intended to reduce some of the costs associated with production.

Safaricom said the packages were developed after engaging farmers and considering their communication needs. The company noted that voice services remain important in farming communities because farmers use calls to share information, consult others and make production decisions.

The Meru launch was the fifth regional farmer engagement forum after similar events in Kirinyaga, Bomet, Nakuru and Bungoma. The company says the flexible packages are intended to allow farmers to choose services according to their individual requirements and farming seasons.

The County Government of Meru has welcomed the partnership, saying the package will give farmers access to affordable digital services while connecting them to agricultural value chains and other support services.

Farmers across the country can access Bundle Ya Wakulima by dialing *544*16#, giving them a single entry point to connectivity, insurance and agricultural services designed to support their livelihoods and productivity.