TechnoPlatform@GH

Cajanus cajan (pigeon pea) a good source of protein and carbohydrate is a leguminous plant which is amenable to zero tillage, mixed cropping, crop rotation and can be used as fodder. It is drought resistant and good for nutrient cycling. However, major challenges including limited access to improved seeds and training on recommended farming practices has made it a neglected crop. Our solution is to provide a technology platform that facilitates coordination and cooperation among seed suppliers, peasant farmers and agronomists in the agricultural value chain. The application will be available on computers and phones and will provide alerts to farmers on the availability and accessibility of improved seeds (pigeonpea, millet, vegetables) and training at no cost. With TechnoPlatform@GH solution in place, peasant farmers can have easier access to improved seeds, cultivate more varieties of food for improved nutrition and be more food secured.

Poor nutrition is a global challenge. At present, about 11% of the world's population is reported to be malnourished. Also, available information show that, only about 37% of people in the Savanna areas of Ghana eat nutritious diets. This alarming fact needs to be changed. This change can be realized if food production is increased in quantity, quality and variety. To this, improved seeds/varieties of crops should be available and appropriate farming methods adopted.

Creation of a digital platform to link seed suppliers, peasant farmers and agronomists on a common medium for effective coordination and cooperation in achieving the following: improved food production and adequate nutrition

Among the poorly nourished in Ghana are people in the Savanna areas of the country. The ‘poor nutrition state’ of these communities is linked to low food production, low quality of produce and the cultivation of mostly carbohydrates based foods. With the TechnoPlatform@GH solution, the problem of access to improved seeds will be alleviated by connecting seed suppliers to peasant farmers and making provisions that farmers receive seeds at reduced costs. Seasoned agronomist will also be brought onboard the TechnoPlatform@GH application to provide training on low carbon farming practices (Zero tillage) through short videos and texting to farmers using predefined symbols to take care of the needs of the unschooled.  The TechnoPlatform@GH will also make provisions for the exchange of farm produce and seeds. For example, vegetable farmers will be able to place request for exchange of some of their produce for grains. This can reduce post-harvest losses whiles encouraging farmers to produce more. Through this, families can have access to food products they do not cultivate.

This solution is targeted at the rural communities in the Savanna areas of Ghana. In these communities, the average person lives on less than a Dollar (USD) a day and largely depends on food crops produced from family farms. Food crops produced in these areas are mostly carbohydrates with relatively lower yields. Preliminary studies in these communities revealed that, the unavailability of improved seeds/varieties and training were major factors contributing to their 'poor nutrition state'. Information gathered from the preliminary studies showed that, training through short videos, voice messages and texting using symbols will be effective communication mediums. Summarily, the TechnoPlatform@GH solution seeks to assist:

• Peasant farmers to have easier access to seeds (improved varieties) and training on environmentally friendly farming practices which supports the production of different food crops within manageable farm lands
• Rural communities to receive improved nutrition and food security.

While poor nutrition is common in Ghana, its effect is more pronounced in the Savanna areas of the country. However, with sustainable food systems in place, poor nutrition in these areas should be history. To achieve this, the TechnoPlatform@GH solution seeks to use pigeonpea as a low carbon protein option while facilitating easier access to improved seeds (pigeonpea, vegetables, etc) and training farmers on low carbon (ie, zero tillage) farming methods. Our solution can also be slightly modified to address the CHALLENGE dimension on supporting small scale farmers to have easier access to inputs, capital and knowledge.

We hereby present our unique solution, the TechnoPlatform@GH solution. This solution (application) will be designed to present a common platform where seed suppliers, peasant farmers, the ordinary person and agronomist can share and access information. This application will have tools for sending and receiving voice messages, short documentaries on training and texts. These communication channels can then be used for training purposes, placing and receiving requests. Its feature of allowing the use of predefined symbols for communicating information to people without formal education makes it particularly unique. It will also have the feature of auto-messaging services to subscribed users at no cost.

Our proposed solution is a computer application designed to share, send and receive messages. Messages considered include texts, short documentaries, and use of symbols. It will thus provide a platform where the services of certified seed suppliers and agronomists will be made available to farmers. The application will also have features of auto-messaging for alerts on the availability of materials/resources.

TechnoPlatform@GH will operate similar to Farmer link and Cocoa link web applications but with additional functions as described earlier.

1. At present, the solution is at the conceptual stage, thus not serving anyone yet
2. In a year's time, this solution should be serving at least, 100,000 farmers
3. In five year's time, this solution should be serving at least, a million (1,000,000) farmers

1. Full-time staff; five(5)
2. Part-time staff; three (3)
3. Contractors; two (2)

A multidisciplinary team made up of agronomists, conservation biologists, environmentalists and application software specialists with several years of experiences in our respective fields.

Our proposed solution is to improve the quality of nutrition of rural folks of which women are an integral part. Our team's experience in delivering solutions to rural areas of Northern Ghana makes us good competitors for this prize. The prize when won will be used to pursue activities that lead to the achievement of our main objective of providing quality nutrition to the rural folks living in the Savanna areas of Ghana.