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13.09.2021 | Blog

AgriShare – An app connects farmers in Uganda

Through the AgriShare app, farmers can connect with each other to share resources and services.

Zwei Kleinbauern schauen in ihr Smartphone und beschäftigen sich mit der Landwirtschafts-App AgriShare, Uganda 2021.
With the agricultural app AgriShare, small farmers in Uganda can network with each other and benefit from each other © Welthungerhilfe

How an app brings together needs and offers of farmers

John Semanda is a farmer living in the village of Kabakedi in Uganda. He used to husk his corn in the traditional way. This involves putting the corn into a bag and beating it with a stick to remove the husk. However, traditional shelling causes great losses, because the seeds are often damaged in the process, also it is very labor-intensive and therefore time-consuming.

Ein Bauer aus Uganda bring seine Maisernte zum Schälen, 2021.
John Semanda takes part of his corn harvest to Tomasi Kasasa, who then husks the corn for him. © Welthungerhilfe

The AgriShare app helps farmers connect. For more information, visit the AgriShare website.

AgriShare networks, creates transparency and provides security

Tomasi Kasasa recently bought a corn sheller with the aim of earning an income by renting it out. But he lacked customers. He heard about AgriShare and started using the smartphone app. That is how Tomasi and John found each other. Since then, Tomasi generates more income and uses the money to feed his family, and John can get his corn shelled faster and without losses. Tomasi says the corn shelling machines reduce the time needed and also protect the corn from damage in the process. AgriShare allows him to compare the prices of different corn shelling machine operators and be assured of the quality of the services.

Derick Yawe rents tractors and offers services. However, he lacked customers, some farmers did not pay him for his services or there were problems in making appointments. Now he can specify the days when he has no work. On those days, AgriShare offers him work opportunities based on the bookings made through the platform. This simplifies the appointment booking process and Derick has the assurance that he will be paid for his services, as farmers first deposit the money with AgriShare before Derick goes to the farm to work. © Welthungerhilfe
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Rashid Kasozi and his family breed fish. To ensure the water quality and thus his yield, the water must be changed regularly. However, the family cannot afford a water pump. Through AgriShare, they can now borrow it for a low price. Through the app, Rashid now also offers his skills as a pond builder and helps other farmers build fish ponds. This gives him another income opportunity. © Welthungerhilfe
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Fred Ssebadduka is a trader at one of the busiest markets, Balikyejusa Market, and also works as a farmer. In addition, he buys produce from the surrounding farms. The challenge is to transport the products from the farms to his market stall. He has no money to buy his own truck. He used to rely on a few truck drivers with whom he had contacts. However, he says that truck drivers often charge high prices and are sometimes unavailable. Through AgriShare, he can now see which trucks are available and compare prices. © Welthungerhilfe
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Ali Sonko is a pineapple farmer and needs laborers to help him harvest. He says that access to farm workers has allowed him to take better care of his pineapples and thus earn more income through better harvests. Ali now wants to grow passion fruit as well. He is in the process of building a water source so he can rent an irrigation pump from AgriShare to water his passion fruit. © Welthungerhilfe
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Fatuma Oluke is a farmer who also makes mats. Whenever she needs farm workers, she turns to her neighbor Ali Sonko, who books them through AgriShare. The platform offers the possibility to hire workers for others and also to book them for groups. These features especially benefit smallholder farmers who may not have a phone. © Welthungerhilfe
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One platform for all - connecting supply and demand 

And that is precisely the goal of the smartphone app AgriShare. Smallholder families and farms can connect with each other to share resources and services. For decades, smallholder farmers in Africa and Asia have had little access to important equipment and services to improve their productivity, yields, and value-added opportunities. Few private and public services are available to farming communities for the loan of materials. The gap between supply and demand is large. Nevertheless, among those who own and rent equipment, the level of underutilization is very high because often farmers and service providers do not know about each other.

First Zimbabwe, now also Uganda

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AgriShare has been on the market since March 2019, first in Zimbabwe, now also in Uganda. From the beginning, the app was designed in close collaboration with potential users. With the help of user tests, AgriShare is constantly being optimized and further developed. The app has already received recognition outside of Welthungerhilfe (WHH): at the WFP Innovation Pitch Night, AgriShare won the jury award.

Like many apps, AgriShare works via a smartphone and mobile data. Farmers therefore do not need their own assets to connect with commercial or private rental services. This is not only how John and Tomasi found each other. Just like them, many other users of the app in Uganda and Zimbabwe also benefit. 

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