M-Farm

Product Description

M-Farm is a tool designed to deliver updated price information, it also allows for collective crop selling, and collective input buying. The service works through the website or SMS inquiries.

While the app is still downloadable, the platform has not been updated since 2019.

Target SDGs

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

Target Users (Target Impact Group)

Household

Distributors / Implementing Organizations

Unknown

Competitive Landscape

Direct competitors include Akorion EzyAgric App, WeFarm, and Esoko.

Manufacturing/Building Method

Software development

Intellectural Property Type

User Provision Model

Online sign up

Distributions to Date Status

7000 users as of 2013

Design Specifications

In addition to providing updated pricing information, M-Farm created an advanced feature, where an agent aggregates demand and supply of Central Kenya farmers.

Product Schematics

Technical Support

M-Farm

Replacement Components

N/A

Lifecycle

N/A

Manufacturer Specified Performance Parameters

Provide price updated information and create a market network that serves smallholder farmers.

Vetted Performance Status

A study performed with 600 farmers reports farmers could double their sales by using M-Farm in central Kenya.

Safety

N/A

Complementary Technical Systems

Transactions integrated with MFarm's mobile money transfer system, allowing usage of M-Pesa, but also permitting connecting to user's bank accounts.

Academic Research and References

Ogotu, S. and others, 2014, Impact of Information and Communication Technology-Based Market Information Services on Smallholder Farm Input Use and Productivity: The Case of Kenya, World Development, Volume 64, Pages 311-321, ISSN 0305-750X,

Crandall, A., 2012, Kenyan Farmer’s Use of Cell Phones: Calling Preferred over SMS, Proceedings of M4D2012, 28-29 February 2012, New Delhi, India

Fisac Garcia, R., Acevedo Ruiz, M., Moreno Romero, A.M. and Kreiner, T., 2013, The Role of ICT in Scaling Up the Impact of Social Enterprises, Journal of Management for Global Sustainability, v. 1 (n. 2); pp. 83-105. ISSN 2244-6893

Baumüller, H., 2013, Enhancing smallholder market participation through mobile phone-enabled services: The case of M-farm in Kenya, In: Horbach, M. (Hrsg.), INFORMATIK 2013 – Informatik angepasst an Mensch, Organisation und Umwelt, Bonn: Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V.. (S. 1730-1738)

Baumüller, H., 2017, Assessing the Role of Mobile Phones in Offering Price Information and Market Linkages: The Case of M?Farm in Kenya, EJISDC, Volume 68, Issue 1, Pages 1-16

Wyche, S. and Steinfield, C., 2015, Why don’t farmers use cell phones to access market prices? Technology affordances and barriers to market information services adoption in rural Kenya

Compliance with regulations

N/A

Evaluation methods

Unknown