African Farmers Using Innovations To Make A Profit

By Staff Writer

Ghanaan farmers are using a mobile app that is helping them increase crop yields and connect with other industry players through an online communications medium that is easy to access and cost-effective. 

The app, 'mFarms' is an internet platform linking all players in the agriculture sector giving farmers access to very information. 

Bawa Yamusah a farmer said his produce is bringing in more money, helping to pay for his family's education and health needs. 

"It improved the yields and alternatively our income level has risen and we get food for our homes and the family then we get extra income from what we are going to dispose off", said Yamusah. 

mFarms app platform network, provides information about suitable agriculture methods, market prices, meteorological information and users can also access maps showing the locations of warehouses with available storage space for crops ready for market. 

Image-Ad software development firm in conjunction with Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa introduced the technology in the West African country.

Kwame Bentil, Image-Ad's CEO said the app bolsters more effective agricultural method, planning and executions.

"Because we're connected with other stakeholders we are able to give farmers best technology in terms of seeds, fertilizer and this really helps them to be able to cultivate within the small area and get better yield" said  Bentil.

17 African countries, including Kenya, Nigeria and Rwanda currently use the platform. And farmers in Ghana say that so far, mFarms is improving production and profits from seed all the way to market.

The latest technology to be unveiled in Agricultural sector is ‘Smart Shamba system’, tailored just to suit the African terrain and farmer.

‘Smart Shamba’, is an automated greenhouse irrigation system controlled by a computerized control box that targets water sources for irrigation, control temperatures and moisture input and output , to the exact time when the crops them, wasting not a single drop of water or fertilizer and was developed by Kenyatta University (KU) students in Kenya.

These agricultural innovations aim at enhancing food security in Africa.