New smartphone technology for agri-business goes countrywide

New technology to help Rwanda’s private fertiliser traders to develop efficient and competitive fertiliser procurement and distribution systems has been extended to all sectors across the country.
With funding from Usaid, the International Fertiliser Development Centre (IFDC) was introduced in March 2013, to help fertiliser importers, distributors and retailers monitor and manage trade and sales. Using smart phones equipped with the mFarms application, agro-dealers are able to record all supplies bought from distributors and all sales to customers and calculate their remaining stocks. The technology was piloted among 49 agro dealers in three districts of Eastern Province, which are; Rwamagana, Kayonza and Gatsibo and three districts of Western Province; Ngororero, Rubavu and Nyabihu.

Rolling out the second phase of the project, yesterday in Kigali, it was disclosed that each sector will have one agro-dealer using the technology. Read more