Safaricom set to pilot subsidy fertiliser distribution system
What you need to know:
- “Our solution, should the pilot be successful, will allow us to increase transparency in the allocation of fertiliser to over 3.5 million smallholder farmers across the country using mobile phones,” said Agriculture principal secretary, Ms Sicily Kariuki.
- Collected information will be used to verify and vet farmers. The farmers can request, redeem and reconcile vouchers through their handsets.
- “Mobile technology has the ability to revolutionise traditional distribution models. This turn-key solution is just one of several that Safaricom hopes will transform the operations of businesses across Kenya,” said Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore.
Safaricom has been contracted to pilot an electronic-based fertiliser distribution system that will avail the farm input to farmers early and help eliminate corruption from the subsidy scheme.
The ministry of Agriculture has said that ‘E-fertilizer Subsidy Management System’ will enable it to issue electronic vouchers directly to farmers through their mobile phones.
“Our solution, should the pilot be successful, will allow us to increase transparency in the allocation of fertiliser to over 3.5 million smallholder farmers across the country using mobile phones,” said Agriculture principal secretary, Ms Sicily Kariuki.
The system works using data and SMS services to manage the issuance, redemption and reconciliation of vouchers from farmers; it is managed by Safaricom.
SIGNED UP IN THE SYSTEM
Ms Kariuki said that existing agro dealers and fertiliser providers are being signed up into the system by the ministry.
Collected information will be used to verify and vet farmers. The farmers can request, redeem and reconcile vouchers through their handsets.
The piloting begins in Uasin Gishu, Trans Nzoia and Bungoma counties in preparation for the next season of subsidy fertiliser distribution.
“Mobile technology has the ability to revolutionise traditional distribution models. This turn-key solution is just one of several that Safaricom hopes will transform the operations of businesses across Kenya,” said Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore.
Farmers will then use the vouchers like cash to purchase the inputs from agro-dealers. This will help get rid of middlemen.
It will also ease the distribution and avail fertiliser to farmers before the planting season starts.
“As at the beginning of May, a total of 510,000 tonnes of various types of fertilisers had been imported against an estimated demand of 490,000 tonnes,” said Ms Kariuki.
