Agricultural Technology Solution in Nigeria
Agricultural Technology Solution in Nigeria
Agricultural Technology Solution in Nigeria
Design
Design
Design
Completed
Completed
Completed
Programming
Programming
Programming
70%
70%
70%
My Role
UI/UX Designer
Project Manager
Project Type
E-commerce
Project Timeline
8 Months
Team Members
Zeeson(Project Manager)
Helen (Software programmer)
My Role
My Role
My Role
UI/UX Designer
UI/UX Designer
UI/UX Designer
Project Manager
Project Manager
Project Type
Project Type
Project Type
E-commerce (Agric-tech)
E-commerce (Agric-tech)
E-commerce (Agric-tech)
Project Timeline
Project Timeline
Project Timeline
8 Months
8 Months
8 Months
Team Members
Team Members
Team Members
Zeeson(Project Manager)
Zeeson(Project Manager)
Zeeson(Project Manager)
Helen (Software programmer)
Helen (Software programmer)
Helen (Software programmer)
Introduction
Introduction
Agricultural business is one of the fastest-growing sectors in Nigeria, with an estimated 34.5 million farmers, according to recent research. The Northern region ranks as the top producer in agricultural production. Easterners, Southerners, and Westerners depend on them for staples such as potatoes, yams, carrots, maize, beans, cucumbers, and more. When it comes to occupation, a significant number of Northerners are farmers who rely on farming income to make ends meet
Agricultural business is one of the fastest-growing sectors in Nigeria, with an estimated 34.5 million farmers, according to recent research. The Northern region ranks as the top producer in agricultural production. Easterners, Southerners, and Westerners depend on them for staples such as potatoes, yams, carrots, maize, beans, cucumbers, and more. When it comes to occupation, a significant number of Northerners are farmers who rely on farming income to make ends meet
Issue Overview
Issue Overview
Northern farmers living in rural areas face numerous challenges when transacting with people from other parts of Nigeria, particularly the eastern region, which constitutes their primary market. These challenges include:
Northern farmers living in rural areas face numerous challenges when transacting with people from other parts of Nigeria, particularly the eastern region, which constitutes their primary market. These challenges include:
Distance Barrier: Geographical distance complicates transportation and logistics, increasing the cost and time required for transactions.
Distance Barrier: Geographical distance complicates transportation and logistics, increasing the cost and time required for transactions.
As a result of these challenges, farmers often resort to selling their produce at significantly reduced prices to local middlemen known as 'Alhajis,' who purchase in bulk and resell to customers in other parts of Nigeria.
As a result of these challenges, farmers often resort to selling their produce at significantly reduced prices to local middlemen known as 'Alhajis,' who purchase in bulk and resell to customers in other parts of Nigeria.
Project Objectives
Project Objectives
The objective of this project is to establish an online platform for local farmers to efficiently market their produce, enabling them to negotiate prices with customers and receive payment without the need to travel to distant markets or sale to “alahaji’s at a low price.
The objective of this project is to establish an online platform for local farmers to efficiently market their produce, enabling them to negotiate prices with customers and receive payment without the need to travel to distant markets or sale to “alahaji’s at a low price.
Addressing the
problem -
User Research:
Addressing the problem - User Research:
Addressing the problem - User Research:
Addressing the problem - User Research:
Addressing the problem - User Research:
The target users are:
The target users are:
1. Farmers living in the northern part of Nigeria: Specifically, those who face challenges in selling their produce outside of their state due to various barriers, such as language, distance, and trust issues.
1. Farmers living in the northern part of Nigeria: Specifically, those who face challenges in selling their produce outside of their state due to various barriers, such as language, distance, and trust issues.
2. Buyers unable to travel to the north: These are individuals or businesses located in other parts of Nigeria who would like to purchase agricultural produce from the northern region but face barriers such as distance that prevent them from doing so.
2. Buyers unable to travel to the north: These are individuals or businesses located in other parts of Nigeria who would like to purchase agricultural produce from the northern region but face barriers such as distance that prevent them from doing so.
Research Insight
Research Insight
01
A good number of local farmers sell their farm produce within their locality, and a few have customers who come to their state to buy from them.
02
Most farmers who sell in their locality are eager to sell in other states, but the issue is that they don’t have enough money to transport their farm produce from their state to the eastern part of Nigeria, and they are unsure where to settle and sell if they should bring the farm produce over to the states that need their service.
03
Communication is also an issue as they can’t properly speak English.
04
These farmers can’t use a smartphone, which might result in them being unable to use the solution even if we build it.
05
Few buyers come to the north to buy because of distance; others buy from the ones that were able to travel to the northern part of Nigeria once they are back from the trip.
01
01
A good number of local farmers sell their farm produce within their locality, and a few have customers who come to their state to buy from them.
A good number of local farmers sell their farm produce within their locality, and a few have customers who come to their state to buy from them.
02
02
Most farmers who sell in their locality are eager to sell in other states, but the issue is that they don’t have enough money to transport their farm produce from their state to the eastern part of Nigeria, and they are unsure where to settle and sell if they should bring the farm produce over to the states that need their service.
Most farmers who sell in their locality are eager to sell in other states, but the issue is that they don’t have enough money to transport their farm produce from their state to the eastern part of Nigeria, and they are unsure where to settle and sell if they should bring the farm produce over to the states that need their service.
03
03
Communication is also an issue as they can’t properly speak English.
Communication is also an issue as they can’t properly speak English.
04
04
These farmers can’t use a smartphone, which might result in them being unable to use the solution even if we build it.
These farmers can’t use a smartphone, which might result in them being unable to use the solution even if we build it.
05
05
Few buyers come to the north to buy because of distance; others buy from the ones that were able to travel to the northern part of Nigeria once they are back from the trip.
Few buyers come to the north to buy because of distance; others buy from the ones that were able to travel to the northern part of Nigeria once they are back from the trip.
Core challenge:
Solving This Problem
Core challenge:
Solving This Problem
1. How do we solve the communication problem?
1. How do we solve the communication problem?
2. Since the farmers can’t use a smartphone, what do we do?
2. Since the farmers can’t use a smartphone, what do we do?
3. How can we create a seamless transaction between the buyer and the seller?
3. How can we create a seamless transaction between the buyer and the seller?
Ideation and
Brainstorming
Ideation and Brainstorming
Ideation and
Brainstorming
I and my team members (the developer, project manager, stakeholder) brainstormed on possible ways to solve the problem. It took us a lot of days of brainstorming and ideation before we arrived at the ideas below.
I and my team members (the developer, project manager, stakeholder) brainstormed on possible ways to solve the problem. It took us a lot of days of brainstorming and ideation before we arrived at the ideas below.
01
01
Communication
Problem
Communication Problem
Communication Problem
To solve this issue, my team members and I decided to onboard a middleman who will assist the farmer in carrying out necessary activities on the platform, ranging from negotiating prices with customers to posting available farm produce.
To solve this issue, my team members and I decided to onboard a middleman who will assist the farmer in carrying out necessary activities on the platform, ranging from negotiating prices with customers to posting available farm produce.
02
02
Smartphone
usage
Smartphone usage
Smartphone usage
The agent helps the farmer to create an account, set up his store, post available crops, process orders, and many more. Overall, the agent serves as an account manager to the farmer.
The agent helps the farmer to create an account, set up his store, post available crops, process orders, and many more. Overall, the agent serves as an account manager to the farmer.
03
03
What type of
agent are we utilizing?
What type of agent are we utilizing?
What type of agent are we utilizing?
In the first ideation, we initially considered using random individuals from the same city as the farmer to act as agents. However, a concern arose regarding the possibility of these agents duping the farmer. To address this issue, we decided to opt for individuals who are trusted by the farmer. These trusted individuals could include family members, colleagues, friends, children, etc., ensuring sincerity and straightforwardness in the process.
In the first ideation, we initially considered using random individuals from the same city as the farmer to act as agents. However, a concern arose regarding the possibility of these agents duping the farmer. To address this issue, we decided to opt for individuals who are trusted by the farmer. These trusted individuals could include family members, colleagues, friends, children, etc., ensuring sincerity and straightforwardness in the process.
04
04
How does the farmer
gets paid?
How does the farmer gets paid?
How does the farmer gets paid?
Once the agent completes the registration of the farmer's account, they will be required to fill in the account details on behalf of the farmer. Subsequently, the customer service team will contact the farmer for account confirmation. This process ensures that the farmer has authorized the registration and validates the accuracy of the account details provided by the agent.
Once the agent completes the registration of the farmer's account, they will be required to fill in the account details on behalf of the farmer. Subsequently, the customer service team will contact the farmer for account confirmation. This process ensures that the farmer has authorized the registration and validates the accuracy of the account details provided by the agent.
05
05
Does agents gets paid?
Does agents gets paid?
The system pays a percentage of the transaction amount to the agent as a form of incentive, aimed at encouraging their participation and assistance to the farmer. This incentive serves as a reward for the agent's efforts in facilitating transactions and supporting the farmer throughout the process.
The system pays a percentage of the transaction amount to the agent as a form of incentive, aimed at encouraging their participation and assistance to the farmer. This incentive serves as a reward for the agent's efforts in facilitating transactions and supporting the farmer throughout the process.
06
06
How do we earn as a business?
How do we earn as a business?
For each transaction made, we deduct 20% of the profit as our fee. This fee covers the operational costs of the platform and ensures its sustainability while allowing the remaining 80% of the profit to go to the farmer.
For each transaction made, we deduct 20% of the profit as our fee. This fee covers the operational costs of the platform and ensures its sustainability while allowing the remaining 80% of the profit to go to the farmer.
Streamling
Operations
StreamlingOperations
Streamling Operations
StreamlingOperations
StreamlingOperations
To streamline operations, we decided to onboard transportation companies to assist in transporting farm produce from one state to another. The transportation company will be compensated upon successful delivery of the produce.
To streamline operations, we decided to onboard transportation companies to assist in transporting farm produce from one state to another. The transportation company will be compensated upon successful delivery of the produce.
Typical Agent Flow
Typical Agent Flow
Typical Agent Flow
Design and iteration
Design and iteration
Landing Page
In the initial iteration of the landing page, I designed the interface without providing customers easy access to top sellers. However, after iterating on the design, I improved it to make it easier for customers to access top sellers on the platform. This adjustment was made to minimize the time taken for customers to find what they need and enhance the user experience.
Landing Page
In the initial iteration of the landing page, I designed the interface without providing customers easy access to top sellers. However, after iterating on the design, I improved it to make it easier for customers to access top sellers on the platform. This adjustment was made to minimize the time taken for customers to find what they need and enhance the user experience.
Agent Dashboard (middleman)
Agent Dashboard (middleman)
In the first iteration, the side navigation bar only featured icons. However, upon further consideration, I opted to enhance it by adding icons accompanied by text. This adjustment aimed to improve usability, making it easier for agents to quickly understand the purpose of each icon.
In the first iteration, the side navigation bar only featured icons. However, upon further consideration, I opted to enhance it by adding icons accompanied by text. This adjustment aimed to improve usability, making it easier for agents to quickly understand the purpose of each icon.
Features of the dashboard
Agent can add available farm produce to store
Agent can see customers who bided on the farm produce.
Agent can see the list of orders from customers.
Agent can track orders.
Agent can see and respond to reviews from customers.
Features of the dashboard
Agent can add available farm produce to store
Agent can see customers who bided on the farm produce.
Agent can see the list of orders from customers.
Agent can track orders.
Agent can see and respond to reviews from customers.
Farmer onboarding
Farmer onboarding
After registration and verification, the agent onboards the farmer, with the capability to onboard as many farmers as necessary. Once the farmer's basic details are registered, the agent will be required to input the farmer's bank details for payment. A confirmation call will then be made to the farmer.
After registration and verification, the agent onboards the farmer, with the capability to onboard as many farmers as necessary. Once the farmer's basic details are registered, the agent will be required to input the farmer's bank details for payment. A confirmation call will then be made to the farmer.
Farm produce biding
Farm produce biding
Buyers see all kinds of farm produce posted by agents and bid on the ones they want to buy. A buyer can also chat or call the agent for further negotiation. Whenever buyers bid on a farm produce, the agent sees a list of all the buyers who bid on a certain farm produce they posted for the farmer. The agent then requests payment from their preferred bidder under the consent of the farmer.
Buyers see all kinds of farm produce posted by agents and bid on the ones they want to buy. A buyer can also chat or call the agent for further negotiation. Whenever buyers bid on a farm produce, the agent sees a list of all the buyers who bid on a certain farm produce they posted for the farmer. The agent then requests payment from their preferred bidder under the consent of the farmer.
Booking Transporter
Booking Transporter
After price negotiations and payment between the buyer and seller, the buyer then books a transporter to convey the farm produce to their preferred location. Upon visiting the transporter's store, the buyer sees a variety of trucks, some almost full and others empty. They then select a truck to convey their farm produce based on the size of the items. It's important to note that whenever an agent uploads a farm produce, they measure and input the weight of the farm produce, which is used to determine the price of transportation by the transporter.
After price negotiations and payment between the buyer and seller, the buyer then books a transporter to convey the farm produce to their preferred location. Upon visiting the transporter's store, the buyer sees a variety of trucks, some almost full and others empty. They then select a truck to convey their farm produce based on the size of the items. It's important to note that whenever an agent uploads a farm produce, they measure and input the weight of the farm produce, which is used to determine the price of transportation by the transporter.
Reflection
Reflection
This project aimed to address challenges faced by farmers in Northern Nigeria by connecting them with buyers through technology, improving market access and livelihoods.
Despite obstacles, such as designing user-friendly interfaces and efficient transactions, the team grew through collaboration. A key insight was the value of user-focused design and continuous improvement, which helped refine the platform and enhance its functionality.
Ultimately, the project showed how technology can positively impact agriculture, providing farmers with broader market access and supporting Nigeria's agricultural growth.
This project aimed to address challenges faced by farmers in Northern Nigeria by connecting them with buyers through technology, improving market access and livelihoods.
Despite obstacles, such as designing user-friendly interfaces and efficient transactions, the team grew through collaboration. A key insight was the value of user-focused design and continuous improvement, which helped refine the platform and enhance its functionality.
Ultimately, the project showed how technology can positively impact agriculture, providing farmers with broader market access and supporting Nigeria's agricultural growth.