AGRIKONNECT

Our solution, AGRIKONNECT is an innovative Artificial Intelligence enabled hybrid platform that showcases local markets in Nigeria, their market days, commodities prices in real-time, and market locations on Google map thereby connecting farmers, logistics companies and customers seamlessly  thus ensuring efficient agricultural commodity marketing and reducing post-harvest waste. Machine Learning Algorithm is integrated in our solution to analyze buying patterns.

The problem we are solving are: Post harvest waste, Low access to market/No smart  market, Lack of industry data.

Every year, about 45% of food produced by farmers in Nigeria are wasted primarily due to lack of access to market and poor storage facilities.

By preventing food waste at the consumer level in Nigeria, around 1 Mio tonnes of food can be saved from being wasted (assuming that 57% of food waste is avoidable). This would result in a reduction potential of about 9 Mio tonnes CO2 eq. (corresponding to the level of Finland’s total greenhouse gas emissions)

57% of the population of Nigeria are farmers, our solution is serving undeserved rural farmers in Nigeria.

A farmer brings his/her commodity to our agents in all the markets, who then captures details of the commodity,commodity prices and the farmers contact details on agriKonnect. A prospective customer visits the market on our platform, makes request, and we quickly connect the farmer, logistic company (NEZAM, Benue Links

Our solution, AGRIKONNECT is an innovative Artificial Intelligence enabled hybrid platform that showcases local markets in Benue state, their market days, commodities prices in real-time, and market locations on Google map thereby connecting Benue farmers, logistics companies and traders seamlessly  thus ensuring efficient agricultural commodity marketing and reducing post-harvest waste. Machine Learning Algorithm is integrated in our solution to analyze buying patterns.

) and the customer.

Our solution is AGRIKONNECT, an innovative Artificial Intelligence enabled hybrid platform that showcases local markets, their market days, commodities prices in real-time, and market locations on Google map thereby connecting  farmers, logistics companies and customers seamlessly  thus ensuring efficient agricultural commodity marketing and reducing post-harvest waste. Machine Learning Algorithm is integrated in our solution to analyze buying patterns.

(1)Agrikonnect provides a robust and secure search functionality that enable users locate agricultural products, local markets, farm inputs and specialists, commodity prices and products on a daily basis.

(2) Machine Learning Algorithm that predicts  buying patterns

(3)Internet of Things toggle feature which enables users to be automatically notified by cell phone text message and/or email whenever there is a new development/update in their area of production, specialty and/or interest.

(1)Agrikonnect provides a robust and secure search functionality that enable users locate agricultural products, local markets, farm inputs and specialists, commodity prices and products on a daily basis.

(2) Machine Learning Algorithm that predicts  buying patterns

(3)Internet of Things toggle feature which enables users to be automatically notified by cell phone text message and/or email whenever there is a new development/update in their area of production, specialty and/or interest.

AI-Machine Learning

This example clearly illustrates the impact of our solution on circular economy, in order to provide 1 kg of yam to consumers, 1.28 kg need to be produced. Along the supply chain, those 0.28 kg of edible and inedible parts of yam are removed for various reasons which primarily includes access to market/lack of smart market. Environmental impacts related to these 0.28 kg of food waste occur during production, processing, retail and distribution, consumer activities (e.g. cooking, storing) as well as food disposal (e.g. composting, waste incineration). The later in the supply chain food is wasted the more environmental impacts are associated with this food waste.

AgriKonnect is a platform that engenders social inclusion; It empowers and enables farmers, input sellers and specialists who sign up on the platform to be recognized as a formalized, organized workforce that contributes to the agricultural development of State and Nigeria at large. Other benefits of being signed on AgriKonnect as a farmer includes information on and access to improved seeds, breeds and trends in the agricultural sector, we also carry out farmers training and personal development seminars, financial advice's and a Micro finance bank for farmers( next milestone)

Our estimated market size according to our recent feasibility studies indicated that we can reach approximately 23,655 farmers  and 4,000 customers in two states we currently serving. There are about 5,075 farmers, 80 traders (middlemen) and 3 fertilizer companies that have indicated interest and are ready to use our platform. We just recently sign an MOU with Benue State Government.

Our next milestone is to be able to serve customers in at least 8 states of the federation. In five years time, we should be able to scale across the 37 states of the federation and be considering export to neighboring African countries.

Our goal is to be able to serve customers in at least 8 states of the federation by 2020. In five years time, we should be able to scale across the 37 states of the federation and be considering export to neighboring African countries.

The top 3 barriers I have faced so far in the ongoing process of launching my business are; (1) Funding (2) Convincing and motivating my team to work without a substantial salary. (3) Having to convince stakeholders particularly farmers in my business ecosystem to register on Agrikonnect.

By raising 20000USD through bank loans/angel investor, and signing MOU with the government to gain credibility before rural farmers.

17000USD will be used to build our fulfillment centers and warehouses.

5 full time staff and 240 part-time staff

JIRAJI KELVIN TERSOO-CEO

Serial entrepreneur, consulting  experience working with  Diamond bank, TEF fellow,  MWF Finalist, and farmer. MBA

UDELE ABRAHAM-COO

More than 3 years experience  working as a developer in  areas such as software  development and data  security.

DUGERI DANIEL-CTO

ANDELA FELLOW with More than 5 years experience  working as a developer in  areas such as software  development and data  security.

SHEILA MOOR-Food technologist

Food technologist from University of Agriculture, Makurdi

We are partnering with Benue Links and NEZAM as our logistics partners. We recently signed an MOU with Benue State government and Farmers Association of Nigeria

1. 10% Commission per transaction

2. Farmers/Logistics Companies Subscription fee

3. Advertisement  

By selling products and services and raising investment capital

My key expectations and envisaged achievements from participating in the SOLVE challenge are; to acquire rich experiences and exposure to a broad-spectrum of knowledge and insights that will influence my business activities in a dynamic way and engender the progress which we anticipate as a company. Secondly, I hope to meet and network with other entrepreneurs to share ideas, learn from each other and form partnerships. Another major expectation is to be able to secure funding which will be a major milestone for me, the organization and team.

MICROSOFT, JUMIA

Our solution collects a lot of data hence the need for using Google cloud storage since it supports Big Data. Google Cloud storage in Agrikonnect is used to store and access data which is localized along with high availability, and enables the performance of different operations efficiently. Cloud Machine Learning will be incorporated to analyze pattern uniqueness

As a son of a farmer, I have had the first hand experience of the difficulty of selling agricultural products after harvest, thus resulting to post harvest waste and low return on investment for farmers. This has been my motivation. We would use the prize to solve the problem of huge post harvest waste by farmers, create or advance equitable and inclusive economic growth across geographies/demographics and ensure all citizens can overcome barriers to civic participation and inclusion, including expanding access to agricultural information, internet, digital literacy, and services using Agrikonnect as a tool. I believe that one of the fastest ways to effect inclusive growth and development is by creating opportunities that empowers the people and enable productivity.

No

NO

AGRIKONNECT is an 6-months-old data company with two main lines of business. First, it collects data directly from farmers, agents and other sources, aggregating it and bringing it to the marketplace, both for marketing and for market information dissemination purposes. Second, it hosts sophisticated data warehouses for large clients in consumer-facing industries, including 50 of the top 100 fod processing companies. In short, her company is all about data, including some of what people may perceive to be scary uses of data.

The company conducted more than 80 privacy impact assessments taking into account all of the different stakeholders. The site allows farmers and consumers to register and look at the data that Agrikonnect holds about them for marketing purposes, and enables them to apply for a change, including to make corrections or to falsify information.The company is building the trust of the people it serves, because the business relies upon its users being comfortable sharing data with the service. This drives much of the company’s efforts to be responsible data stewards, which involve both complying with the law and going beyond it to best meet user expectations

NO