Isoko Application

A mobile application, app and dial number, that will connect farmers and their consumers, especially agro-processing industries.

This application uses both a mobile app and a dial number. Users will have to download the app and register with identifying documents or dial the number to access information. Consumers will post their demands and automatic notifications will be sent to farmers who registered for the particular product for the updates.

With the application free to use and information available in Kinyarwanda, there will be different sections for convenience use. 

1. Home: under this section, the user will find the information and guidance on how to use the application

2. Consumer: has subcategories marked by different types of harvest like fruits, vegetables, potatoes, etc where under a specific harvest a consumer will post the amount, quality, price, and quantity they want,  their address, and contact information.

3. Farmer: contains subcategories marked by different types of harvest. By clicking on a specific type of harvest, the farmer will be able to see all demands posted by different consumers for that harvest and their specificities.

4. Information: for additionals like challenges farmers are facing such as pests, and other communique. 

To ensure the credibility of information, after uploading, the user will receive a notification message to confirm if it’s their posts. 

The solution aims to address the challenge faced by many Rwandan farmers of limited access to the market of their harvest as well as the increased import of raw materials by agro-processing industries. This is due to the lack of direct communication between farmers and consumers who are mainly agro-processing industries.

Rwanda is a small landlocked country with a population of 13.4 million people where 82.57 % of the population live in rural areas and 70% engaged in agriculture as the main source of employment. According to the 2015 assessment, there were 735 large and small agro-processing industries, that are based in Rwanda.  However, despite having a large population involved in agricultural activities and the presence of local agro-processing industries, Rwanda still spends around $574 million on annual food imports. This is partly due to the increased importation of agricultural products to use as raw materials by these agro-processing industries which results in an increased cost of final products.  On the other hand,  there are increased complaints of farmers whose harvests are getting damaged without reaching consumers, while other farmers decide to sell their harvest at very low prices before they get damaged. This is the same case within Africa as a whole where around 85% of food consumed in Africa is imported despite having around 60% of its population as farmers. The annual bill spent on food imports in Africa is expected to rise from $35 billion by 2017 to $110 billion by 2050.

This solution mainly targets farmers and agro-processing industries working in Rwanda. Many Rwandans are engaged in agricultural activities but they still face the challenge of a limited market for their harvest, which results in harvest damage before reaching the market. On the other hand, the agro-processing industries are forced to increase the price of their final products due to the extra cost of importing raw materials which limits the purchasing power of local customers due to the increased price. 

With around 10 million Rwandans having mobile phones, the proposed mobile application will act as a network  to connect the farmers and agro-processing industries operating in Rwanda, therefore serve as a platform to create the market opportunities for both sides. By creating direct contact between farmers and agro-processing industries, the farmers will be able to sell their harvest on time before it gets damaged while agro-industries will reduce their dependence on imported raw materials hence providing final products that are affordable to the local customers. Additionally, this will help the supply of nutritious food to the consumer since the harvest will be sold when it is still fresh.

The proposed solution is still a concept. The only step we took was to do internet-based research to understand the extent of the problem.

Not yet started to work on a project, still gathering the ideas and doing research.

Isoko application uses mobile phones, computers and other telecommunication devices. This is an application designed so that it can link farmers who will register and consumers who are agro-processing industries in Rwanda. Using either play store or app store, both farmers and agro-processing industries will download the application and register for use. Those without computers or smartphones will dial a number to access the information on the application.

Currently, there is no user, but we expect to have around 100000 users within the first year of the start

The goal of next year is to do an extensive study with the users and develop the prototype of the system. After developing the prototype will start working with local farmer and agro industries for testing and implementing the solution.

Not yet applicable

Lack of money to pay the Information-Technology specialists with whom we will work hand-in-hand to develop and run the application.

1. We live in Rwanda and we have been raised by families whose main employment is farming. Having been raised by farming families, our school fees and all the upbringing depended on agriculture, however it has never been sufficient to support our families. Despite the poverty in agricultural families, in Rwanda there are agro-processing industries established to process the local harvests so that they can increase their value and sell final products. The agro-processing industries do not use the locally available products because there is no link between farmers and these industries, despite 70% of Rwandans being farmers. 
2. There are communication commpanies that we will be working with to include the non smartphone users through the dial number.
3. Also, communication skills that will allow us to connect with farmers and agro industries as we tell them about the application.

There is no partner organization.