Project Title

Overview

This project was developed to address the challenge of market access for smallholder farmers in rural Tanzania. By leveraging basic mobile technology (USSD and SMS), we created a platform that connects farmers directly with buyers, eliminating middlemen and increasing farmer profits by up to 30%.

The system allows farmers to register their produce, receive market price alerts, and connect with potential buyers. For buyers, it provides a searchable database of available produce, quality information, and direct contact with farmers.

Challenge

Smallholder farmers in rural Tanzania face significant challenges in accessing fair markets for their produce. Limited information about market prices, reliance on exploitative middlemen, and lack of direct connections to urban buyers result in reduced income and economic instability.

Solution

We developed a mobile-first platform that works on basic feature phones through USSD and SMS, requiring no smartphone or internet connection. The system includes:

• Farmer registration and produce listing system
• Automated market price alerts based on location
• Buyer-farmer matching algorithm
• SMS-based communication channel
• Basic quality verification process

Impact

Since launch, the platform has:

• Connected over 5,000 farmers with urban markets
• Increased farmer income by an average of 30%
• Reduced post-harvest losses by 25%
• Created a more transparent and efficient agricultural market