Farmers in Narok, Nakuru, Baringo and Nyandarua are set to benefit from a digital platform to reduce post-harvest losses.
The Sh105 million ($815,000) platform will link dairy, maize and Irish potato cooperative societies with markets and service providers.
The Kenya Rural Transformation Centre for Digital Platform is designed to provide easy access to farm inputs and connecting them with service providers and markets.
Wycliffe Oboka, a professor at the Cooperative University of Kenya, said the platform aims to help farmers through cooperative societies.
“As part of this initiative, we want to bring farmers and various actors along the value chain onto one digital platform,” Prof Oboka said.
Post-harvest losses are a major challenge and through the digital platform, cooperatives will be able to identify potential buyers for their produce.
“Through this digital platform, they will be able to know who is available in their area and whom they can quickly reach for information,” he said.
“Knowing where the market is and what the prices are will reduce the burden on farmers or cooperatives from holding onto produce for too long, which may increase post-harvest losses. We anticipate a significant reduction of about 30 per cent.”
So far, 152 cooperatives from these counties have been mapped.
“There are many cases where farmers produce goods but are unable to reach the markets. Additionally, cooperatives often do not perform as well as expected,” Oboka explained.
“They may have a surplus but lack information, knowledge and data about the market and where they can sell their produce. Furthermore, farmers may not be aware of suppliers, extension service providers, equipment, and financial institutions that can support their production.”
Oboka spoke during the launch of a one-week prototype testing workshop programme in Narok town early this week.
The workshop was also conducted in the participating counties.
Farmers will also be supported to identify symptoms encountered in crops and animals, by taking a picture and uploading it to the digital platform's receipt and send section.
An extension service provider will then offer information to the farmer.
“We are bringing together veterinary service providers, equipment providers, other extension service providers, and financial institutions, so farmers are aware of where to seek help,” Oboka said.
The two-and-a-half year project is piloted by CUK in partnership with the Kenyan government and funded by the African Development Bank.
Director of Research and Innovation at CUK, Professor Ken Waweru, said the tool will eliminate inefficiencies caused by middlemen.
“The platform will ensure that cooperatives gain visibility in the market. Each member will have access to farm inputs and direct market connections. It will also address issues such as post-harvest management, extension services and weather,” he said.
The team is currently validating the platform prototype.
“In the next one or two months, after fine-tuning, we will onboard all cooperatives and their farmers. This will connect them with the market so that if you are selling potatoes, buyers will know where to source them and view the pricing,” Waweru explained.
“The platform will enhance farmers' incomes. Ultimately, farmers will see better returns for their hard work and labour,” he added.
Transparency in cooperative operations will also be enhanced, as farmers will receive mobile phone notifications about the quantity of produce delivered.
They will also be able to track sale prices and quantities once cooperatives sell their produce.
“This will address one of the major governance issues and reduce barriers between farmers and managers,” the professor said.
“As a cooperative university, we are committed to training cooperative leaders in leadership and governance.”
While the university is implementing the platform, it remains a government project aimed at increasing efficiency and transparency within cooperatives, he added.
Sylvester Odera, lead developer for the project, said unlike other platforms, KRTCDP empowers farmers through their cooperatives, giving them more bargaining power.
The platform integrates all essential modules into one system, instead of standalone modules for each value chain.
“In this digital platform, you will find post-service providers, equipment service providers, extension service providers and a very advanced ticketing system that helps farmers resolve their issues,” Odera said.
“It also assists with book-keeping and journal entries, addressing the problem of fragmented technologies that often plague farmers.”
Buyers can also access the records detailing the crop’s journey from planting to harvest.
“The digital platform will also help with traceability of produce from planting to harvesting. When a farmer is onboarded to the platform, they can record activities such as spraying crops with insecticides,” Odera said.
There are three access channels: the web portal, which farmers can access through computers, desktops, or laptops; the mobile app; and a USSD system, where farmers can dial a unique code to access features.
Narok North's cooperative officer, Helen Surum, said the platform serves as a one-stop digital solution for cooperative societies.
It will significantly reduce post-harvest losses and increase farmers' earnings.
“The platform will also help with market linkages and provide easy access to farm inputs,” she said.
