The benefits of easily accessible digital information have been thoroughly documented in case studies, reports and academic journals. The 2018 East Africa Digital Farmers Conference held at the Kenya Agriculture & Livestock’s (KALRO) headquarters underscored the importance of embracing and working with new agri-technologies in all links of the value chain. Access to information like better production practices, weather updates, safer pesticide use and market prices, improve productivity, food safety and raise incomes. Yielder does just that: it is an open-source, agriculture engagement platform and a smartphone app that facilitates a farmer’s access to this type of agri-knowledge.
Once Yielder is downloaded, a farmer has access to a one-stop shop for essential agriculture information and agri-themed chat groups – closed and public – for trainings. The information in Yielder is generated by NGOs, agribusinesses, farmer groups and other reliable knowledge institutions. Farmers and organisations can upload and share their information with other users as well. Organisations like Agrico and Farm Africa have uploaded information and pushed direct messages on new variety of potato seeds and better fish farming. Although new, Yielder is already closing the communication gap in the value chain.
To help promote the use of the app among farmers, Yielder set up the Yielder Ambassador Network. This network is made up of young and energetic women and men who are passionate about spreading better agriculture practices among farmers in their communities.
Yielder Ambassadors help farmers install the app and show them how to operate it. By promoting the app, Yielder Ambassadors grow their network, acquire agriculture experience and learn about the dynamics in the field. Ambassadors also receive training from Yielder and become trainers as well. Lastly, they give Yielder valuable feedback on how the app is used and what farmers’ digital needs are. The Yielder Ambassador Network is proving to be successful. Therefore, Yielder is opening the network to other parties as well.
“We want our ambassadors to be more than the eyes and ears of Yielder in the field,” said Alexander Valeton, Founder of Yielder. “The next phases of developing our network involve delivering how-to-use trainings via our ambassadors.”
The Yielder platform and app will add functionalities and grow the Yielder Ambassador Network to become a full service tool for farmers in Kenya. Not only digitally, but in person as well.
If you’re interested to collaborate with Yielder or the Yielder Ambassador Network, please feel free to contact us at kenya@yielder.org, or connect with us on social media via our Facebook Page. You can also download the app from https://bit.ly/2ylNS3W and for more information about Yielder, visit our website at www.yielder.org.