Page 21 - 2020 Virtual International Symposium

M-Farm: The Digital Platform to Connect Farmers

A Student Multidisciplinary Applied Research Team (SMART) Project

1
Fante Bradford , Dani Cohen , Axel Letondot , Alex Li 4
3
2
TEAM LEADER: Ndunge Kiiti 5
FACULTY/FIELD ADVISORS: Parfait Eloundou-Enyegue , Mainza Mugoya , Gideon Kyalo , Emmanuel Muniu 9
7
6
8
M-Farm Overview
M-Farm (Mobile Farm) is a digital agriculture company based in Nairobi, Kenya.
Their mission is to help smallholder farmers communicate and transact more
effectively with the market. With this objective in mind, M-Farm is leveraging
emerging mobile and internet technology.

History

M-Farm is launched. They M-Farm halts operations to
provide live market prices rethink its mission and Linda Kwamboka, Co-Founder/CEO of M-Farm,
to 1000+ farmers via SMS restructure the team engages Alex
2020 M-Farm is determining a
2012 2019
strategy for its future and invites
the SMART team to support
2011 2017
M-Farm begins working with agents to M-Farm restarts under
fulfill orders. M-Farm and its agents the leadership of Linda
build a network of 40,000+ farmers Kwamboka

Research Methods Data Collection Among Farmers

The team interviewed produce buyers,
government officials, technology companies,
and community-based organization (CBO)
farmers at Kwa Mikuyu and Mwakini in Kitui. Seeds: Grown: Transport:
from Agrovet Sorghum, maize, carrying on back
or recycled green gram or by donkey
Fante interviewing a farmer
Current System Inefficiencies
1. Farmers unsure of what to grow
Distance: 5-8 km Finances: Farmers want: 2. Lack of transportation services
CBO to market from group better prices,
lending less crop loss 3. Crops are lost in storage

Axel interviewing produce buyers 4. Farmers receive unfair prices

Findings Conclusion

The Promise of a More Connected Future
The SMART team’s discussions with M-Farm emphasized the benefits of Smallholder farmers in Kenya face existing
effectively connecting farmers with buyers throughout the supply chain. challenges like lack of transportation. New
problems are emerging including climate change
1. Decide on seeds to grow together and access to digital services like M-Pesa.

2. Buyer can help finance equipment M-Farm is well positioned with a strong,
experienced team, valuable partnerships with
bulk buyers and NGOs, and a broad network of
3. Crops sold directly to buyer, less waste over 40,000 farmers that M-farm will be able to
reach upon launching a new service.
Farmers display their phones during 4. Farmer gets a fair price for their crops
an interview at the Kwa Mikuyu CBO

Acknowledgements Affiliations References
We would like to thank Linda Kwamboka and her 1 International Programs – College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Quartz. “Telecoms Boom Leaves Rural Africa
Strathmore staff for their hospitality throughout this 2,3,5 Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Behind.” The New Times | Rwanda, 1 Feb. 2013,
process.Thank you to the Kwa Mikuyu CBO and the Management www.newtimes.co.rw/section/read/62449.
Mwakini CBO for taking time to speak with us. And 4 College of Engineering Solon, Olivia. “MFarm Empowers Kenya's
6 Department of Development Sociology
lastly, thank you to the many individuals and 7 The Africa Seed Access Index Farmers with Price Transparency and Market
companies for hosting us and providing such an 8 Unumed Kenya Access.” WIRED, WIRED UK, 4 Oct. 2017,
enriching experience. Asante sana. 9 RenMan Africa www.wired.co.uk/article/mfarm.