Many agribusinesses and smallholder farmers still rely on manual processes, which slow down operations and make it harder to grow. Whether it’s inefficient supply chains, time-consuming paperwork, or communication gaps, these challenges make day-to-day work more difficult and limit opportunities for expansion.
To help tackle these issues, eProd Solutions and Rabo Foundation launched the Digitalization Challenge, giving 10 agribusinesses across East Africa the chance to digitalize their operations. By using eProd’s system, these businesses have been able to manage their supply chains more efficiently, improve financial tracking, and strengthen communication with farmers.
From poultry farming to contract farming and export certification, each business has used digital tools in its own way to solve real challenges. Here’s how some of these businesses have leveraged the digital tools to enhance their operations:
Swahili Honey (Tanzania)
Swahili Honey a key player in Tanzania’s honey industry, faced inefficiencies in input distribution and traceability. The manual tracking of honey production and distribution often resulted in lost data and difficulties in ensuring product quality. Farmers lacked a clear way to monitor their resources, leading to inconsistencies in production.
By integrating eProd’s bucket traceability system, Swahili Honey improved input distribution across its farming network. The system enabled real-time tracking of resources, ensuring that farmers received the right supplies while reducing waste. This digital solution also helped the company enhance quality control, ensuring that honey met market standards before reaching consumers. (Read full article here)
JJ Agro Growers (Tanzania)
JJ Agro Growers, which operates in multiple value chains, faced difficulties in managing its contract farming processes. Manually tracking farmer inputs, loan repayments, and harvests was time-consuming and prone to errors. Without a centralized system, communication between farmers and the management team was inefficient, leading to delays and financial mismanagement.
With eProd’s digital tools, JJ Agro Growers transformed its contract farming operations. The system enabled them to monitor input distribution, track loan repayments in real time, and maintain accurate financial records. Farmers also benefited from improved transparency, as they could receive automated updates on their contracts and payments, ensuring trust and efficiency in the supply chain.(Read full article here)
Miyonga Green Fresh (Kenya)
Miyonga Green Fresh, a women-led agribusiness, faced challenges in managing export certification for its products. The certification process was tedious, requiring extensive paperwork and manual tracking, which often led to delays and compliance risks. Maintaining consistent quality standards for international markets was another hurdle that needed a digital solution.
By leveraging eProd, Miyonga Green Fresh was able to streamline its certification and export management processes. The system automated compliance tracking, ensuring that all required documents were up to date and easily accessible. This not only reduced administrative workload but also improved the company’s ability to meet international market standards, expanding their export opportunities. (Read full article here)
Equatorial Horti-Fresh Limited (Kenya)
Equatorial Horti-Fresh Limited (EHL) specializes in horticultural exports but struggled with inefficient data collection and payment processing. The manual system made it difficult to track transactions, farmer payments, and product traceability, leading to delays in operations and compliance challenges. Ensuring product quality while managing multiple suppliers also required a more structured approach.
With eProd, EHL was able to digitize its data collection and streamline payments. The system also enhanced traceability by allowing real-time tracking of crops from farm to market, ensuring compliance with international standards. Additionally, farmers received automated SMS updates on crop progress and payments, improving communication and reducing uncertainty in the supply chain (Read full article here)
AKM Glitters (Tanzania)
AKM Glitters, a leader in Tanzania’s poultry industry, runs an extensive brooder franchise model to help rural farmers access high-quality chicks and essential inputs. However, managing the supply of chicks, feed, and vaccines across their vast network was a major challenge. Delays in delivery and inconsistent communication with farmers led to inefficiencies, affecting productivity and farmer satisfaction.
By integrating eProd, AKM Glitters was able to optimize its poultry supply chain. The system streamlined inventory management, ensuring timely deliveries and accurate tracking of orders. Additionally, eProd’s farmer communication tools enabled AKM Glitters to provide real-time updates, helping franchise farmers make informed decisions on feeding schedules and farm management. (Read full article here)
eKibbo Farming Services (Uganda)
eKibbo Farming Services operates in multiple value chains and needed a robust system to ensure regulatory compliance, especially with the EU Deforestation-free Regulation. The company struggled with fragmented data collection and lacked a unified way to track supply chain activities, making it difficult to meet certification requirements and access new markets.
eProd provided eKibbo with a comprehensive digital platform to manage traceability, ensuring compliance with international standards. The system also facilitated connections between farmers, financial institutions, and buyers, creating a more sustainable and transparent farming ecosystem. As a result, eKibbo has improved its operational efficiency while reducing risks associated with deforestation and unsustainable farming practices. (Read full article here)
Zayn Agro (Kenya)
Zayn Agro, a fourth-generation cotton ginnery, struggled with fragmented data management. Manually tracking farm inputs and outputs across different production sites was inefficient and often resulted in inaccurate records. This made it difficult to forecast supply needs, leading to delays in input distribution and challenges in meeting production targets.
By adopting eProd, Zayn Agro significantly improved data flow within its operations. The system provided a centralized platform for monitoring input distribution, farm productivity, and output quality. With better data visibility, Zayn Agro was able to ensure farmers received the right resources at the right time, leading to increased yields and more efficient supply chain management. (Read full article here)
By embracing digital solutions, these fascinating businesses are making a tangible impact on local farming communities, boosting productivity and cutting costs through digitalization of the processes with eProd. We are proud to have played a key role in enhancing their supply chain management operations.
For more information about eProd, feel free to call or WhatsApp us at: +254 112 203 982 or visit our website at ww.eprod-solutions.com