An interview session with Jean Claude Niyomugabo on Connecting Farmers to the market.
Jean never had an interest in agriculture, even though his parents were small holder Farmers. He was discouraged to venture into agriculture because of the stress his parents went through during farming. And after all the stress, transportation of agricultural products to the market wass another challenge on its own for them. As he continued to learn in secondary school, the interest began to rise as his agriculture teacher regularly encouraged him. The school also had a mini farm where they practiced whatever they were taught. His journey into agriculture began, so did Speke Farms .
Jean proposed that the major challenge faced by agriculture is marketing. In his undergraduate days, he engaged rural farmers who cultivated onions. These farmers weren’t able to get premium prices because of market challenges. They couldn’t transport the onions as there were no direct customers. Jean, a community builder, planned and focused on how to help farmers with the market. This birthed Speke Farms, a farm with a goal to create a system where farmers can get their produce transported safely, market what they produce while getting good payment for whatever they sell. Speke farms is an online market linking farmers to marketplace, extension and outreach as well as promoting the sale of products from smallholder farmers in rural areas.
Speke Farms collects different products from different farmers to have a huge quantity for sale . They ensure promotion of products preceed harvesting to have a right-timed market. Speke Farms employ the use of Instagram, mobile app, Twitter and on-site medium for their operations. They also train farmers about production, value addition using new technologies. Speke Farms leverage on delivery fees, charges on training, business plan making, financial advisory services. He has helped over 200 farmers to be connected directly to market extension services through digitalization.
Planning is a great tool to deploy to have an optimal production. Checking for the availability of your intended crops in the market as well as its demand will not only bring confidence but will prevent future disasters pertaining to the market. Analyzing and optimization of input to be used to achieve optimum production. Because Agriculture depends on natural parameters like sunlight and water, for a great harvest and market, you should plan well.
Jean concluded with advice for the youths: He stated that youths should make detailed and structured planning as well as market research. He ended with the saying, “Agriculture is a business, be ready to learn and practice”.
This interview was hosted by Agrojournalist Oyewale Joshua