Nigeria has set a new global record, as the world’s first fully-digital, end-to-end blockchain-based commodity trading and financing platform was unveiled by Sterling Bank Plc.
Developed in partnership with Binkabi and AFEX Commodities Exchange, the platform will decentralise Agric commodity trading in Nigeria, and all emerging economies, helping to reduce intermediation in trade, while distributing profit more widely across the value chain.
Speaking at a news conference announcing the platform on Tuesday, the Chief Executive Officer, Sterling Bank Plc, Abubakar Suleiman, said Nigeria loses about half of its agricultural products yearly to post-harvest processes.
“By introducing and establishing a viable and efficient agricultural commodities exchange platform, we are able tackle this sort of challenge. Cereal grains such as rice, maize and soya beans, which are among the basic staple foods across Nigeria, suffer the most loss among all agricultural commodities. By applying some of the latest scientific storage technologies and providing liquidity, we can help reduce this problem and increase margins for the farmers.
“In addition, this is a medium to long-term value investment for us at Sterling Bank. The productivity gain from the partnership is that the Agric sector will be de-risked, and our farmers will become more viable for commercial lending. It will also create a pathway for more banks to lend to farmers without intervention funds, making it possible for the Government to free up funds allocated to subsidizing Agric sector to other industries”.
Also speaking at the event, the Country Manager Nigeria at AFEX Commodities, Ayo Balogun, said the commodity exchange is designed to help farmers mitigate risks, and ensure payments are made through reliable financial service providers.
“A typical scenario at the exchange involves the use of warehouses across the country with modern facilities where farmers and traders can take their produce to minimise wastages.
Farmers can deposit their agro commodities in certified warehouses and are issued receipts, which are recognised by the bank.
The Founder and CEO of Binkabi, Quan Le, said: “Our vision is to ensure that the commodity network becomes fairer and more profitable through collaborative efforts which leverages blockchain technology.
“We understand that if financial markets can fail ordinary people in the developed world then the agricultural markets are failing ordinary farmers in the developing world. The only difference is that these farmers don’t have a voice – it is a silent crisis.
“This has motivated us to work with like-minds to develop a marketplace of end-buyers and end-sellers of commodities to help reduce intermediation in trade, distributing profit more widely in the value chain.
According to him, Binkabi offers an end-to-end solution for the entire trading process from sourcing to settlement, and creating new opportunities.
He added that the company is transforming agro commodity supply chain in emerging markets for the benefit of farmers, SMEs and other actors.
