How Green Charrettes is Using Blockchain to Ensure Egg Farmers in Uganda are Paid Their Fair Share.

Before the outbreak of COVID 19 pandemic, egg farming, particularly small-scale backyard farms managed by village women, served as a vital source of income and empowerment for rural communities. However, following the outbreak of the pandemic, over 40 percent of egg farmers ceased their operations because of economic challenges, and the industry faced a crisis.

Key factors contributing to this problem include:

1. Economic viability: Middlemen driving down prices and paying farmers less than their production costs have made poultry farming economically unviable for many.

2. Market dynamics: Existing market and distribution networks have worked against the interests of farmers, leading to speculative trading and stagnant egg prices despite rising feed costs.

3. COVID-19 impact: The pandemic further exacerbated these challenges, leading to decreased egg consumption and uncertainty about the future of egg farming in Uganda.

The scale of the problem is significant, affecting over 40 percent of poultry farmers in Uganda and potentially hundreds of thousands of families reliant on egg farming for income. 

Our solution aims to empower smallholder egg farmers by providing access to resources, training, and market opportunities. By leveraging technology such as blockchain, we aim to enhance transparency and fairness in the supply chain, ensuring that farmers receive fair compensation for their produce. Through these efforts, we seek to revitalize the poultry industry, uplift rural communities, and create a more sustainable future for egg farmers in Uganda and beyond.

Green Charrettes is a social enterprise that supports small-scale egg farmers in rural areas by providing them with essential resources such as inputs, training, credit, insurance, storage, and access to markets. The aim is to help these farmers transition from subsistence egg farming to running their egg businesses commercially.

Since early 2022, Green Charrettes has been piloting a blockchain project in Uganda, specifically targeting small-scale egg farmers in rural communities. The project is pioneering the use of blockchain technology in the poultry sector, with the goal of demonstrating that egg farming can contribute to a more transparent and equitable society.

The project involves tracking the journey of eggs from production to consumption using blockchain technology. This ensures that all eggs produced by Green Charrettes' egg farmers can be traced back to their original source, starting from the farmer, egg aggregation centers, and urban retail partners.

The unique part of this project is the introduction of a system where urban consumers can directly support rural farmers by using tokens to "tip the farmer." This creates a direct connection between consumers and producers, fostering a closer relationship.

To facilitate this, eggs will be labeled according to their farmer and production method (free-range or caged), with each package featuring a physical blockchain token or scannable code. This allows consumers to view information about the farmer, the payment made, and the value added to rural communities through the aggregation, packaging, and grading process.

Our aim is to address the low income of rural egg farmers in Uganda, with the goal of increasing their annual earnings from around $450 to €1,000. Additionally, the project envisions empowering consumers to contribute towards infrastructure projects or equipment upgrades for farmers through the use of blockchain tokens.

Ultimately, Green Charrettes is working to revolutionize the egg farming industry by leveraging blockchain technology to enhance transparency, support rural farmers, and create a fairer and more sustainable system.

Green Charrettes targets small-scale egg farmers in rural Uganda who have been severely affected by the economic challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. These farmers have struggled with declining incomes due to static egg prices and rising egg production costs, leading many to cease operations. Existing market structures have favored middlemen, leaving farmers marginalized and economically vulnerable.

Green Charrettes provides these farmers with vital support, including inputs, training, credit, insurance, and access to markets. Through our innovative blockchain project, we aim to bring transparency to the egg supply chain, ensuring fair compensation for farmers and empowering consumers to directly support them.

By enabling consumers to tip farmers and trace the origin of their eggs, we create a direct connection between producers and consumers, fostering mutual support and trust. Our goal is to uplift rural smallholder egg farmers, increase their incomes, and create a more sustainable future for the poultry industry in Uganda. Through these efforts, we strive to transform the lives of these egg farmers by empowering them to take control of their own destinies and build thriving egg production businesses.

Green Charrettes stands out as a unique and effective team to deliver our solution to small-scale egg farmers in Uganda. Our team comprises over 900 members, making us the fastest-growing association of smallholder egg farmers in the country. We are not just a team; we are a collective effort driven by the farmers themselves, embodying the cooperative spirit and a shared belief in the right to set fair prices for our produce.

Our organizational structure is deeply democratic, with a three-tier system ensuring representation and participation from all levels of the farming community. From the grassroots local committees to the top executive committee, every member has a voice and a stake in our operations. Elections are held regularly to uphold democratic principles and ensure accountability.

Crucially, our team is deeply embedded within the communities we serve. We understand the challenges and aspirations of rural egg farmers because we are farmers ourselves. Our proximity to the target population allows us to design and implement solutions that truly address their needs and priorities.

Furthermore, our commitment to transparency and communication is evident through initiatives like the Green Charrettes Review, which disseminates information and fosters unity among farmers across the country. By harnessing the collective wisdom and expertise of our diverse membership, we ensure that our solution is not just designed for the community but by the community, driving meaningful and sustainable change in the Ugandan poultry industry.

We selected the stage above because it represents significant progress in the establishment and operationalization of Green Charrettes. Here's a breakdown of what we've accomplished so far:

1. Company Registration: We have successfully registered Green Charrettes as a limited company by guarantee, demonstrating our commitment to formalizing our operations and ensuring transparency.

2. Workforce Mobilization: Through concerted efforts, we have mobilized a substantial workforce of 900 egg farmers across 15 districts in Uganda. This broad participation reflects the extensive reach and impact of our initiative within rural communities.

3. Organizational Structure: We have established a comprehensive organizational structure, comprising an Executive Committee, Regional Committees, District Committees, and Local Committees. This hierarchical setup ensures effective governance and representation at every level of our operations.

4. Blockchain Platform Development: Despite the platform not being fully functional yet, we have made progress in developing a blockchain platform designed for onboarding farmers. While still in the testing phase, this initiative underscores our commitment to leveraging technology for the benefit of our members.

5. Conventional Operations: In the absence of a fully functional blockchain platform, we have successfully implemented conventional means of aggregating, grading, packaging, and delivering eggs from smallholder farmers to retail shops in urban centers across Uganda. This operational activity demonstrates our ability to execute on our mission even while technological solutions are still in development.

In terms of customers or beneficiaries served, our focus has primarily been on establishing the infrastructure and organizational framework necessary for effective implementation. While the blockchain platform is not yet operational, our conventional operations have enabled us to serve retail shops in urban centers, laying the groundwork for future scalability and impact as we continue to develop and refine our technological solutions.

We are applying to Solve to overcome specific barriers hindering the implementation and scalability of our solution for small-scale egg farmers in rural Uganda. These barriers include:

1. Financial Constraints: We require funding to further develop and refine our blockchain platform, expand our outreach efforts, and provide additional support to farmers.

2. Technical Expertise: We seek technical expertise and support to optimize our blockchain solution, ensuring its effectiveness in tracking and tracing eggs throughout the supply chain.

3. Market Access: Solve can help us connect with partners and stakeholders who can facilitate market access for our farmers, enabling them to reach a wider customer base and increase their income.

4. Partnership Opportunities: We hope to leverage Solve's network to establish partnerships with organizations and individuals who share our vision and can provide valuable resources and support to advance our solution.

By participating in Solve, we aim to access the necessary resources, expertise, and networks to overcome these barriers and drive meaningful impact for smallholder egg farmers in Uganda.

Green Charrettes offers a groundbreaking solution to the challenges facing egg farmers in Uganda through a combination of grassroots organization, cooperative principles, and innovative technology. What sets Green Charrettes apart is its rapid growth and grassroots approach, empowering farmers to collectively determine their selling prices and actively participate in shaping the industry's future.

By fostering a sense of ownership and cooperation among its members, Green Charrettes has become a driving force for positive change within the poultry industry. Through initiatives such as market interventions, price support operations, and consumer education campaigns, it has not only improved the livelihoods of its members but also elevated the standards of the entire egg industry.

The incorporation of blockchain technology further revolutionizes Green Charrettes' approach by enhancing transparency and fairness in the egg supply chain. By creating a decentralized platform that connects all stakeholders, from farmers to consumers, Green Charrettes ensures that the value generated at each stage of the supply chain is visible to all parties. This transparency highlights disparities in value distribution and paves the way for inclusive business models that prioritize fairness and sustainability.

Green Charrettes' adoption of blockchain technology has the potential to catalyze broader positive impacts within the agricultural sector. By demonstrating the benefits of transparent value-sharing and inclusive business practices, it sets a precedent for other farming communities to follow suit. This shift towards equitable value distribution not only benefits farmers but also fosters trust and collaboration across the entire agricultural ecosystem.

Overall, Green Charrettes' innovative approach, rooted in cooperative principles and enabled by blockchain technology, has the power to transform the market landscape by promoting fairness, sustainability, and empowerment within the egg industry and beyond.

Core issues in the egg production sector:

1. Economic viability: middlemen paying farmers below production costs.

2. Market dynamics: speculative trading, stagnant egg prices despite rising feed costs.

3. COVID-19 impact: decreased egg consumption, economic uncertainty.

Solution Approach:
1. Empowerment: Provide inputs, training, and market opportunities to egg farmers.
2. Technology Integration: Utilize blockchain for transparency and fairness.
3. Transition Support: Assist subsistence egg farmers in commercialization.

Immediate Outputs:
1. Resources: inputs, training, credit, insurance, and storage.
2. Market access: direct connection between rural farmers and urban consumers.
3. Transparency: blockchain tracking of the egg journey from production to consumption.

Short-Term Outcomes:
1. Improved Income: Increased earnings for rural egg farmers.
2. Market Stability: Reduced speculation, fairer prices.
3. Consumer Awareness: Understanding farmer contributions and impacts.

Long-Term Outcomes:
1. Industry revitalization: sustainable growth of the poultry sector.
2. Community Upliftment: Economic Empowerment of Rural Areas.
3. Sustainable Practices: Adoption of fairer and more transparent supply chain models.

Impact on the Target Population:
1 Empowerment: Enhanced livelihoods for over 40% of poultry farmers.
2. Economic Stability: 50,000 families benefit from the revived egg farming sector.

Evidence and Support:
1. Pilot Project: Successful blockchain implementation since 2022.
2. Consumer Engagement: direct support to farmers through the token system.
3. Income Projection: Aim to increase annual earnings from $450 to €1,000 for rural egg farmers.

Broader Impact:
1. Market Transformation: Shift towards fairer and sustainable practices.
2. Sector Leadership: Pioneering use of blockchain in the poultry industry.
3. Social Impact: Contributing to a transparent and equitable society.

Green Charrettes' impact goals revolve around enhancing the livelihoods of small-scale egg farmers in rural Uganda while fostering transparency and equity in the egg farming sector. To measure progress towards these goals, several key metrics are being tracked:

1.Increasing farmers income: The primary goal of Green Charrettes is to elevate the annual earnings of rural egg farmers from $450 to $1,000. Progress towards this target is assessed through regular income assessments and financial record-keeping of participating farmers.

2.Blockchain Adoption: The success of Green Charrettes hinges on the adoption and effective utilization of blockchain technology. Metrics such as the number of farmers enrolled in the blockchain system, the volume of eggs tracked, and the accuracy of tracing eggs' journey are monitored to gauge
blockchain adoption and effectiveness.

3. Consumer Engagement: To evaluate consumer engagement, metrics such as the number of consumers using the "tip the farmer" feature, feedback on the transparency and traceability of labeled eggs, and consumer sentiment
towards supporting rural farmers are collected through surveys and market research.

4. Infrastructure Contributions: The project aims to empower consumers to contribute to rural development projects. Progress is measured by tracking the amount of blockchain tokens allocated towards infrastructure projects or
equipment upgrades for farmers and assessing the impact of these contributions on rural communities.

By monitoring these metrics, Green Charrettes can assess the effectiveness
of its initiatives in empowering rural farmers, enhancing transparency,
and fostering a fairer and more sustainable egg farming system in Uganda.

Green Charrettes' core technology is blockchain, which powers its innovative
solution aimed at revolutionizing the egg farming industry in Uganda.
Blockchain technology is leveraged to bring transparency, traceability, and trust to the entire supply chain, benefiting both farmers and consumers.

Through the implementation of blockchain, Green Charrettes ensures that every egg produced by our farmers can be traced from the farm to the end
consumer. Each egg package features a unique QR code that consumers can
scan to access detailed information about the product's journey, including the farm location, processing date, packaging, and transportation history. This transparency enhances consumer trust in the authenticity and quality of the eggs they purchase.

Moreover, Green Charrettes integrates a token economy into its blockchain system, wherein consumers receive digital tokens with each purchase of eggs. These tokens represent a value that consumers can track through the
blockchain network, ensuring that a portion of their purchase directly benefits the farmers. Consumers have the option to use these tokens to
receive discounts on future purchases, tip the farmers for producing
quality eggs, or invest in the company's initiatives, such as equipment
upgrades or infrastructure projects.

The immutable and transparent nature of blockchain transactions ensures
that all stakeholders, including farmers, consumers, and the company
itself, can track the flow of funds securely. This technology not only
facilitates fair compensation for farmers but also encourages consumer
engagement and loyalty. By combining blockchain with traditional egg
farming practices and community-led cooperatives, Green Charrettes
demonstrates a holistic approach to leveraging technology for the betterment of people and the planet.

7 full-time staff and 5 part-time staff

Two and a half years

To ensure diversity and inclusivity within our team at Green Charrette, we implement a three-tier democratic structure, fostering representation at every level:

Executive Committee: Comprising 12 members elected by founder members, chairpersons, and vice-chairpersons of regional Committees, ensuring diverse perspectives and backgrounds are represented at the apex level.

Regional Committees: With 4 committees across poultry-producing centers, each consisting of 5 members elected by a diverse electoral college, including chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of Local Committees. This setup guarantees regional representation and inclusivity.

District Committees: Operating at the grassroots level in 25 locations, each committee comprises 5 members elected by ordinary members from the covered area, promoting inclusivity and participation from the local community.

In addition, our General Body, comprising 900 poultry farmers and egg traders, ensures broad representation of stakeholders. Regular democratic elections held every three years ensure fair opportunities for participation and leadership roles.

To minimize barriers to opportunity and create a welcoming environment, we prioritize communication and information dissemination. The monthly Green Charrette Review serves as a platform to share developments and technological advancements worldwide, promoting unity and knowledge-sharing among members across geographical, cultural, and linguistic boundaries.

Our business model at Green Charrettes revolves around providing value to poultry farmers and retail shops while generating revenue through discounted input supply, egg recovery, grading, packaging, and resale.

Key Customers and Beneficiaries:

1. Poultry Farmers: Our primary customers and beneficiaries are poultry farmers who receive inputs at discounted rates, helping them reduce production costs and improve profitability. They also benefit from access to loans in the form of inputs, facilitating their farming activities without the burden of upfront capital investment.

2. Retail Shops: Another key customer segment includes retail shops across the country that purchase graded and packaged eggs from us. They rely on our consistent supply of quality eggs to meet the demands of their customers, enhancing their reputation and profitability.

Products and Services:

1. Input Supply: We provide discounted inputs such as feed, medication, and equipment to poultry farmers, enabling them to optimize their production processes.

2. Loan Recovery: At egg harvesting, we recover the loan provided to farmers in the form of eggs, ensuring a mutually beneficial arrangement where farmers can repay their debt through their produce.

3. Egg Aggregation and Grading: We aggregate eggs produced by farmers, grade them according to national standards, and package them for resale. This ensures uniform quality and enhances the marketability of the eggs.

How We Provide Products and Services:

We establish partnerships with suppliers to procure inputs at discounted rates, passing on the benefits to poultry farmers.
Through efficient loan recovery mechanisms, we collect eggs from farmers, minimizing financial risks and ensuring continuous support to farmers.
Our grading and packaging facilities ensure that eggs meet national standards, enhancing their market value and appeal to retail shops.

Why They Want or Need Our Products and Services:

Poultry farmers benefit from reduced input costs, access to capital through input loans, and assistance in marketing their produce, thereby improving their overall profitability and sustainability.
Retail shops rely on our consistent supply of quality eggs to meet consumer demand and maintain their reputation in the market, ultimately driving their sales and profitability.
Overall, our business model focuses on creating value for both poultry farmers and retail shops by providing essential inputs, financial support, and quality products, thereby contributing to the growth and sustainability of the poultry industry.