Benefits for the agricultural supply chain

1. Sector structuring

Traceability of the use of inputs

Since 2009, the Kenyan government has implemented a program subsidizing part of agricultural inputs (the “National Accelerated Agricultural Inputs Access Program NAAIAP”) for farmers with less than 2.5 acres. However, this system has significant limitations:

  • Low adaptability to demand: subsidized fertilizers are not always adapted to the pedoclimatic context, to production needs, to the period of demand and to access to the distribution site.
  • Illegal behavior: A third of the inputs would be diverted for illegal resale, without counting the “bribes” making up part of the subsidy system.

The KILIMO project should make it possible to better manage input needs so that they reach the farmer, and ensure that they are correctly used by the latter:

  • For example, to create a subsidy system based on simulations or on actual plot sizes rather than a fixed dose per farmer.
  • By indicating the optimal fertilizer input dates that will enhance yields (play on the input dates in order to produce more with the same amount of nitrogen) to motivate growers to transform fertilizers into valuable additional yield rather than reselling them.

Officers extension network

The “Extension Officers” support the growers throughout the season. However, their small number compared to the number of farmers limits the scope of their actions. Thanks to the FieldSim application, eTumba wants to optimize their working time. They benefit from a tool to facilitate their network of farmers that they can easily contact (thanks to telephone numbers and the automatic sending of SMS messages) and that they can easily advise thanks to the indicators available in the application.

The Extension Officers also have a controlling role in the management of inputs. They will validate the effective start of production of corn plots to avoid false declarations and the unnecessary sending of fertilizers.

2. Digitization and better visibility of production

One of the challenges of the project through the deployment of the FieldSim tool is also to professionalize and have full visibility on corn cultivation:

Guide

By knowing the overall areas cultivated at the county level, and the estimated yields during the season.

Anticipate

Variations in yield which would require importing, if necessary, corn from neighboring counties or countries in order to ensure the food security of the populations.

Identify

The origin of a drop in yield, if climatic, due to poor agricultural practices.