Last year we met with Theodore Kindong and his Agric-Hub Technologies Inc. Since then, we have continued talking to farmers around the continent. During these conversations, we have identified a few areas that may take agriculture on the continent to the next level.
One of these factors is locally developed technology. Why locally developed, someone might ask. Isn’t all technology that advances agriculture good, wherever it comes from? The simple answer is that locally developed technology is based on the local circumstances, solving local issues, and is more flexible when it comes to changing the local environment.
Because Theodore and Agric-Hub Technologies Inc., are at the forefront of the tech revolution, I felt it important to revisit him and talk to him about his outlook on agriculture in Africa, and more importantly, talk to some of his customers, who currently are using his technology, about their experience, the benefits they get from the technology, and what expectations they have about this kind of technology in the future.
I wanted to know more about two of Agric-Hub’s services. First, the AgricMarket, and second their soil testing. AgriMarket is an online platform that connects farmers with their customers. The farmers make their products available on the platform and people can purchase directly from the farmer.
I was able to Ngu Han Ngu, a civil servant, who is also involved in poultry farming, about his experience with AgriMarket. “I do not have much time to get fresh farm produce since work takes up most of my time. Since I started using Agric-Hub technology I have been able to get fresh produce delivered to me directly from the farmer”.
“The experience has been wonderful, and being involved in poultry farming, I was able to get training on poultry farming from Agric-Hub as well. Then, knowing how convenient the AgricMarket is, I will be using the platform to market my birds in the future”.
AgricMarket seems to be earning its praise, but as the saying goes “nothing is perfect”, so what would Mr. Ngu Han Ngu like to see Agric-Hub improve on the AgricMarket? “I’d like to see the platform gain more visibility. As both suppliers and consumer bases grow, the easier it will be to market our products there, and the better selection is out there for consumers. I’d like to see them in the App Store and elsewhere and see them more active in community engagement. Agric-Hub offers solutions at every level and should move even closer to local farmers, and communities”.
I was also able to speak to Ngu Han Ngu, about the soil testing and its results. “Soil testing turned out to be more significant than I had imagined. In essence, it is bringing engineering closer to the farm, which in itself is good. It reminds us technology is something we can use to improve our everyday operations. I think that we, farmers, often feel that as long as we continue doing what we have done, everything will turn out fine. Maybe it will, but using technology increases the probability of things turning out fine”.
“Since Agric-Hub did the soil testing on my land, I have seen significant savings in many areas. First, I have saved on fertilizer, irrigation systems, herbicides, and pesticides, and improved the utilization of my seedlings with a much higher survival rate. Second, and more importantly, I have improved the overall use of the land, and at the same time saved on labor. Now I have a clear plan of how I can maximize the land use, and I do not have to adjust, replant, or recover as a result of incorrect actions when starting the crop cycle”.
“I also have a proper estimate of my return to profit. This means I know how much I will have left to invest in the next crop cycle or additional projects. Finally, when the results are presented upon testing, I have been able to make better, and more strategic, use of organic fertilizer available on the farm, such as manure and mulch per soil type. This in turn reduces waste, lovers cost and makes for a healthier environment”.
It is safe to say that Ngu Han Ngu’s experience has been a positive one. He made sure I understood he would continue receiving these services. “Once you see the results and you start reaping the benefits, you do not want to go back”.
My final question to Ngu Han Ngu was if it did matter part of the technology and the company providing it was local, or if he thought he would be able to get the same benefits from a big multinational corporation. “They (the big multinationals) have the technology, but Agric-Hub is a company that understands the times we are in and understands us here. With its primordial working schedule and on-time delivery, they have shown me they know time is money, and their care for my time has impacted me and marked them as a company to watch out for in the future”.
“I would go as far as to say”, Ngu Han Ngu continues, “that many of our neighboring countries are experiencing a rise in the price of basic commodities and Agric-Hub international trading can help solve the problem of food crisis. Cameroon is blessed with arable land, that favors agricultural activities and has been the bedrock of food suppliers in the center African sub-region, and companies like Agric-Hub can help us do a better job in taking advantage of this resource”.
