M-Farm

M-Farm is a service that provides up-to-date market prices to farmers and connects them with buyers.

Snapshot
Manufacturing & delivery
Performance & use
Research & standards
Feedback

Product description Brand name and 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 region(s) Target region for distribution/implementation (listed by country if specified)

Kenya

Distributors/implementing organizations Organization(s) distributing/deploying this product directly to communities/individuals?"

Unknown

Market suggested retail price Price per unit or service price per usage/terms (USD). Subsidies noted.

Free sign-up. Takes a transaction fee for every deal done using the platform.

Competitive landscape Similar products available on the market. May not be a comprehensive listing.

WeFarm, Esoko, Akorion EziAgric

SDG targeted United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targeted with this product/application/service

Goal 2: Zero hunger

Target user(s) Target user/consumer base (country, income segment)

Kenyan farmers

Manufacturing/building method(s) Detail regarding solution production or construction method (instructions, mass production capacity, custom made,etc...)

Software development

Product Intellectual Property Open source/IP protected (note patent)/trade secret/other?

User Provision Model Where can the product be purchased/acquired by end users?

Online sign up

Distribution to date Number of units that have been deployed, downloads or users to date

7000 users as of 2013

Fields marked are sourced values that have been evaluated by the manufacturer or a third party, all others are design specifications.

Mobile service required

GMS network for sending and receiving SMS

Devices required

(smartphone ,feature phone, computer, tablet, other [specify])

SMS capable device, smartphone, tablet or computer

Additional features required

Permanent network connectivity required

Two way communication (Y/N)

Yes

Level of coverage needed

(2G, 3G, 4G, LTE,…)

GSM

Usage rate (%)

N/A

Literacy support

Users need to be able to send and receive SMS

List of languages available

English

Operating system and version

Android smartphone or Windows/Linux/Mac computer

Power Requirements

N/A

mAgriculture Application

(Connection to market, Microsavings, Supply chain information, Education on farming practices, Weather information, etc)

Receive and send crop market prices, price information, and collective input buying

Design specifications Component and Operation overview including power, portability, facility requirements, preventative maintenance and user training requirements

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 Design and assembly illustrations

N/A

Technical support Technical support provided by

M-Farm

Replacement components Availability of replacement components (in-country, by order,...)

N/A

Lifecycle Disposal and warranty

N/A

Manufacturer specified performance targets Designer / Manufacturer specified targets

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

Vetted performance Findings of manufacturer evaluations or independent testing centers

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

Testing organizations Independent lab, academic research centers, etc.

No third-party organizations, only testing performed by the designer.

Safety Potential hazards / risks related to operation of this product

N/A

Complementary technical systems Performance of this product is improved with another technology (eg. Cookstoves and Wind-blocking skirts)

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 Academic research related to the product (e.g. published papers in peer-reviewed journals)

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 Product certifications and standards referenced by designer/manufacturer

N/A

Evaluation methods Evaluation methods/protocols/guidelines referenced by designer or manufacturer.

Unknown

Other information

In context photographs (0)

You can use the form below to contribute a photo of this product.

In context files & documents (0)

Feedback from users, customers & distributors

Please let us know your experience in using this product through comments below.

Snapshot

Product description Brand name and 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 region(s) Target region for distribution/implementation (listed by country if specified)

Kenya

Distributors/implementing organizations Organization(s) distributing/deploying this product directly to communities/individuals?"

Unknown

Market suggested retail price Price per unit or service price per usage/terms (USD). Subsidies noted.

Free sign-up. Takes a transaction fee for every deal done using the platform.

Competitive landscape Similar products available on the market. May not be a comprehensive listing.

WeFarm, Esoko, Akorion EziAgric

SDG targeted United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targeted with this product/application/service

Goal 2: Zero hunger

Target user(s) Target user/consumer base (country, income segment)

Kenyan farmers

Manufacturing & delivery

Manufacturing/building method(s) Detail regarding solution production or construction method (instructions, mass production capacity, custom made,etc...)

Software development

Product Intellectual Property Open source/IP protected (note patent)/trade secret/other?

User Provision Model Where can the product be purchased/acquired by end users?

Online sign up

Distribution to date Number of units that have been deployed, downloads or users to date

7000 users as of 2013

Performance & use

Fields marked are sourced values that have been evaluated by the manufacturer or a third party, all others are design specifications.

Mobile service required

GMS network for sending and receiving SMS

Devices required

(smartphone ,feature phone, computer, tablet, other [specify])

SMS capable device, smartphone, tablet or computer

Additional features required

Permanent network connectivity required

Two way communication (Y/N)

Yes

Level of coverage needed

(2G, 3G, 4G, LTE,…)

GSM

Usage rate (%)

N/A

Literacy support

Users need to be able to send and receive SMS

List of languages available

English

Operating system and version

Android smartphone or Windows/Linux/Mac computer

Power Requirements

N/A

mAgriculture Application

(Connection to market, Microsavings, Supply chain information, Education on farming practices, Weather information, etc)

Receive and send crop market prices, price information, and collective input buying

Design specifications Component and Operation overview including power, portability, facility requirements, preventative maintenance and user training requirements

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 Design and assembly illustrations

N/A

Technical support Technical support provided by

M-Farm

Replacement components Availability of replacement components (in-country, by order,...)

N/A

Lifecycle Disposal and warranty

N/A

Manufacturer specified performance targets Designer / Manufacturer specified targets

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

Vetted performance Findings of manufacturer evaluations or independent testing centers

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

Testing organizations Independent lab, academic research centers, etc.

No third-party organizations, only testing performed by the designer.

Safety Potential hazards / risks related to operation of this product

N/A

Complementary technical systems Performance of this product is improved with another technology (eg. Cookstoves and Wind-blocking skirts)

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

Research & standards

Academic research Academic research related to the product (e.g. published papers in peer-reviewed journals)

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

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 Product certifications and standards referenced by designer/manufacturer

N/A

Evaluation methods Evaluation methods/protocols/guidelines referenced by designer or manufacturer.

Unknown

Other information

Feedback

In context photographs (0)

You can use the form below to contribute a photo of this product.

In context files & documents (0)

Feedback from users, customers & distributors

Please let us know your experience in using this product through comments below.

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M-Farm

M-Farm

In context photographs (0)

In context files & documents (0)

Feedback from users, customers & distributors