Hamza Rkha Chaham

Hamza Rkha Chaham is a young entrepreneur and co-founder of SOWIT, an agritech startup that provides decision support systems to African farmers.12 He launched SOWIT in 2018 at the age of 27, with the goal of helping farmers increase their productivity and incomes through the use of technology.14

Background and Education

Hamza was born and raised in Morocco before moving to France for his studies.1 He received his education at HEC Paris, a prestigious business school.3 His experiences include traveling extensively across Africa, visiting countries such as Egypt, South Africa, Kenya, and Zambia, which gave him insights into the agricultural challenges faced by farmers on the continent.1

SOWIT: Transforming African Agriculture

SOWIT, co-founded by Hamza, uses processed satellite imagery to provide farmers with valuable data for optimizing irrigation and fertilization decisions.1 The company aims to bridge the gap in agricultural productivity in Africa, which has lagged behind for decades and is further challenged by climate change.1

Key aspects of SOWIT include:

• Providing support to over 22,000 African farmers5
• Offering both financing and technology solutions to increase productivity4
• Operating in multiple African countries, with bases in Casablanca, Dakar, and Paris1

Recognition and Involvement

Hamza's work with SOWIT has garnered attention and recognition:

• He is a 2018 Marshall German Fund and Policy Center for the New South fellow2
• Hamza has participated in panel discussions about entrepreneurship in North Africa and the Middle East during IMF World Bank spring meetings1
• He has been featured in various forums and summits focused on African business and finance45

Hamza Rkha Chaham's journey as a young entrepreneur in the agricultural technology sector demonstrates his commitment to leveraging innovation to address critical challenges facing African farmers and contribute to the continent's economic development.