By Robert M Kintu Principal Consultant /Managing Director

robert@fituganda.com,+ 256 075 460354

www.infotradeuganda.comwww.farmis.ug

www. fituganda.com

ICT4Ag - The Digital Springboard for Inclusive Agriculture 2013Agriculture 2013..

  Holistic ICT Solutions Versus Holistic ICT Solutions Versus Specific Mobile Solutions for Specific Mobile Solutions for AgricultureAgriculture

Day     Day      Wed. Nov.6, 2013, Wed. Nov.6, 2013, Time: Time: 11:00 - 12:3011:00 - 12:30Room:                 Room:                   Ruhondo Ruhondo

Serena Hotel , Serena Hotel , Kigali RwandaKigali Rwanda

The Fox Perspective: Value of Holistic ICT for Market Linkages’

Here on behalf of Here on behalf of FIT UGANDA LTDFIT UGANDA LTD

Business Consultancy : Business Consultancy : Business Development Services , Access to markets, Business training and Information dissemination.

Infotrade : Infotrade : Agricultural Market Information Services Localized Agricultural Market Information ( LAMIS) Value Chain Market Information Services ( VARMIS) Farm Record Management Services (FARMIS) InfoBank- www. allUganda.info

Info point (U) Ltd Info point (U) Ltd an Advertising Business Servicesan Advertising Business Services Affiliations : Affiliations : FIT Ghana, FIT Kenya, FIT ZimbabweVisit : www.fituganda.com or www.infotradeuganda.com Visit : www.alluganda.info or www.farmis.co.ug

16 16 yearsyears

In businessIn business

Product of Infotrade: FARMIS – Farmer Record Management

Services

Why the solution?: Expectations and

desires!!!

The Fox Perspective: Value of Holistic ICT for Market

Linkages’

Talking Point Welcome Rationale for Holistic approach to

Agribusiness problems Problems addressed Value proposition Holistic ICT platforms Presentation of Holistic platforms- Demos Audience, Channels and Out Reach Growth, Scalability and sustainability Conclusion

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What are the problems?

User Perception

Audience preferences

Communication challenges amongst farmers and farmer organisations

Issues faced enterprises based farming

Poor record Keeping

Lack of real-time market information

Limited access to financial services

Shortage of inputs Costly enterprises

Infotrade ModelWhat are the solutions?

Organise farmers into groups Train farmers on proper record keeping methods Bridge the gap between farmers and other

markets/ service providers Provide platform for the farmers to track their

farm activities and expenses. Avail farmers with market information. E.g sms

and radio. Link the farmer to buyers and credit services

Value proposition Holistic ICT platforms Farmer Mobilization – with use community radios Support Farmer Registration- with on mobile interact Aggregation of Support Agencies- Coops /DFAs Profiling of the individual Farmers information needs-

take survey with phone Take annual subscription from profiled farmers – via M-

Mobile Digitalize farmer Information Requests – automatic

price information deliveries.(on phone, radio, IVR, Call Centre)

Link farmers to e-services m-mobile, crop insurance and market alert opportunities

Provide farmer/enterprise identification services – via online platform - FARMIS

Farmer

Fast /Cheap comm between DFA and Farmer by bulk SMS

$

Bank / Microfinance

Planting, Tilling, applying inputs

Farmer submits crop card to DFA for entry

Access to genuine input Suppliers

Free training & video presentations

on farming as a business

Data Stored on secure servers

Farmer Requests for loan

Bank issues loan

Applying pestcides,Harvesting

$ $

Harvest

Access to market countrywide

FARMIS

Bank checks farmer records

Planting

Data Entry at DFA

Radio Marketing of farm produce

SMS alerts of market prices and offers

. .

FARMIS StatisticsSo far Numbers of Farmers with Activity with FARMIS •4850 subscribed •300 farmers using service in Northern region(Lira)•5 farmer organizations registered for FARMIS•70 Paid farmers

Web based tool

Mobile based tool

Defined

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Market Information is a business resource that contributes to know- how and increases the chances for the businesses to manage prevailing situations and plan for future market opportunities. As defined by FIT Uganda 2007

It is the collecting, processing and analyse of market data from all business exchange levels i.e. from farmers to consumers on prices, quantities, qualities, delivery times and costs of transaction.

Our Journey for a Holistic MIS

• ISO Certification

• Standardization of collection, processing and dissemination

• Production Transaction & Marketing

Data

• AGMISAGMIS• FARMISFARMIS

• INFOBANKINFOBANK• LAMISLAMIS

Sustainable markets Crop insurance Financial & Credit

services to farmers

Marketing data Production data Transaction data

Linked processes in agribusiness

Linkages

MT Subscribers : 66,284

MO Ave.HITS : 3,111 p.m.

No. Partnership Radio : 18

Data Feeds : 1

Strategic partnership in Service delivery

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Opportunities to share

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Revenue sharing models for service growth

• For cooperatives• Field Consultants• Staff Incentives

We believe in change Integrated ICTs can do to Agric business Sector Creating opportunities to discuss

To debate options & Risk Pledge to improve processes

To innovate the service offer end user But seek for adopt by multiple stakeholders

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Conclusion Private sector led MIS can be sustainable

only if the development partners and government can stimulate the end user thru’ awareness programmes aimed at mass adaptation.

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