Farmers in dairy, maize, and Irish potato co-operatives have a reason to smile after the Cooperative University of Kenya (CUK) launched a digital platform aimed at linking them with various markets and service providers.
The two-and-a-half year project which is piloted by CUK in partnership with the government is funded by the African Development Bank and seeks to use Ksh105miilion to aid farmers in Narok, Nakuru, Baringo, and Nyandarua Counties reduce post-harvest losses.
The platform dubbed as ‘Kenya Rural Transformation Centre for Digital Platform’ is designed to provide easy access to farm inputs and connecting them with service providers and markets.
According to Wycliffe Oboka, a professor at the CUK, the platform aims to help farmers through cooperative societies with about 152 of them from the beneficiary counties already mapped.
“Through this digital platform, they will be able to know who is available in their area and whom they can quickly reach for information,” said Prof Oboka during the launch of a one-week prototype testing workshop programme recently in Narok town.
“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,” he added.
At the same time, the Director of Research and Innovation at CUK, Professor Ken Waweru, said the tool will eliminate inefficiencies caused by middlemen.
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“In the next one or two months, after fine-tuning, we will on-board 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,” he said.
He asserted that the platform will also enhance transparency in cooperative operations, as farmers will receive mobile phone notifications about the quantity of produce delivered.
Narok North’s cooperative officer, Helen Surum, on her end revealed that the platform is a game changer in co-operative societies as it serves as a one-stop digital solution a thing which has hindered the sector from growing over the years to reach its potential.
By Vostine Ratemo
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