Benson Masyuko

A Kenyan social entrepreneur who revolutionized smallholder farming through mobile technology

Benson Masyuko is a visionary social entrepreneur from Kenya whose work with M-Farm has profoundly impacted agricultural communities across East Africa. Launched in 2013, M-Farm leveraged SMS technology to connect over 100,000 smallholder farmers with real-time market prices and agricultural advisory services. This innovation addressed systemic challenges like information asymmetry and middleman exploitation, directly increasing farmers' incomes by up to 30% in its first three years. M-Farm's platform became a blueprint for tech-driven agricultural solutions, expanding to include weather alerts, crop insurance, and direct commodity sales platforms. Masyuko's approach combined grassroots engagement with scalable tech solutions, earning him recognition as a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader in 2016. His work exemplifies how technology can democratize access to market information in regions lacking internet infrastructure. Partnerships with organizations like the UN FAO and USAID have enabled expansion into Tanzania and Uganda, demonstrating his commitment to regional impact. Masyuko's TED Talk "How farmers can use tech to beat hunger" highlights his belief that empowering farmers creates ripple effects across food security and economic development.