A digital transformation in Kenya bringing farmers closer to seedling producers

Healthy Tray Seedlings Innovation Package and Scaling Readiness Workshop held on May 24, 2024, at icipe Campus. PHOTO-ICIPE

The current state of affairs is the digital transformation that is shaping every sector across the world and agriculture is not being left behind. The OnLima platform is a system that enables farmers to access clean and high-quality seedlings through a USSD-based interface using a mobile phone.

It was developed by PremaGrow seedling propagators in collaboration with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the International Potato Center (CIP). It aims at linking farmers to seedling producers, improving access to quality planting material in a highly convenient and affordable way.

Why OnLima?

Under the CGIAR Food Frontiers and Security Program (FFSP), formerly the Resilient Cities Initiative, IITA is involved in improving the production of safe and nutritious food systems, with a major focus on urban and peri-urban (UPU) vegetable production. The challenges UPU growers face are numerous, but critically includes a lack of access to quality planting material and lack of connectivity between seedling producers and growers. To combat these challenges OnLima was conceived and born.

Designed with farmers in mind

The platform involves the use of a USSD code (*789*7892#) that works offline using android mobile phones by accessing the service via text prompts. Growers can then access various information, such as the availability, price, variety and locality of seedlings, with which propagators, across the country.

A collaborative launch

An inception workshop was held at the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), where stakeholders from farmers, government officials, NGOs, agro-service providers, research and tertiary institutes were invited. The workshop highlighted key focus areas for the OnLima platform, which were farmer centered and practical.

Building trust and transparency

To ensure authenticity, all the dealers are vetted before being accepted on to the platform, which enables farmers to purchase inputs with confidence. In time the platform brings on-board other agri-preneurs, such as agro-delears, agronomists and those selling their produce to broaden its scope.

What are the benefits to suppliers and growers?

The platform offers multiple benefits for growers, as well as for seedling producers. Farmers are in a position to access good quality seedlings from anywhere, for their delivery to wherever the grower wishes. Ideally, the grower can choose the closest provider but further afield from providers who have the required seedlings or at the best prices. This saves on time and cost, improving efficiency. It supports planning for planting seasons and builds trust in the supply chain with verified sources for quality products. On the other hand, the seedling producers are in a position to expand their market reach, both locally and beyond. It promotes transparency and builds a loyal client base as the producer interacts more directly with growers, fostering more stable relationships. The platform will help in the management of the inventory and forecasting demand. Additionally, the platform will provide a secure traceability system for consumers, enabling them to trace their food, from the seed stage to the final product.

The future of OnLima

The platform is working on ultimately integrating agronomic advisory services that will link farmers to agroinput dealers, insurance, or market intelligence, serving as an agri-digital hub for accessing agriculture-related alerts and learning content. It is currently being piloted in selected counties in Kenya, with promising feedback. The plan is for a national rollout and integration with other agricultural value chains. There is also the inclusion of fruit tree seedlings and herbs on the platform. There are plans to upgrade it to an application for smart phone use also, for access to the services online.

A vision for digital agriculture in Kenya and beyond

OnLima is not only a tool for accessing seedlings but an innovation that is driving digital transformation of agriculture in Kenya. By connecting farmers with trusted inputs and reliable sources it strengthens food systems, improves productivity and lays a foundation for smarter, more resilient and sustainable agriculture.  As OnLima continues to grow, it provides the potential of becoming a model platform for other countries that are seeking digital tools to help in strengthening their agricultural value chain using mobile phones.

Authors

Danny Coyne¹, James Kisaakye¹, Eva Ivy Nyambura¹, Newton Nyagah Miringu¹, Janet Achieng Odera¹, Ann Njeri¹, Miriam Irungu¹, Martha Awino², Etienne Claereboudt², Harun Murithi¹

Mellen Nyabuto¹, Godfrey Mwenda³

¹ International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)

² International Potato Center (CIP)

³ PremaGrow