Expertise and Equipment for Farmers in the Developing World

Expertise and Equipment for Farmers in the Developing World

Tim Hammerich
Tim Hammerich
News Reporter
It’s time for your Farm of the Future Report. I’m Tim Hammerich.

We are fortunate in this country to have a world leading agricultural research and extension system. In developing countries, such as on the African continent, this is not the case, but technology is allowing them to make huge leaps toward modernization. For instance, Hello Tractor has a technology to connect groups of farmers with tractor services. CEO Jahiel Oliver says their model combines technology with local booking agents.

Oliver… “We started working with the World Food Program. And so they started to build out these local food systems through these agent networks. Almost like replicating what we have in extension in the U.S. supporting these folks in supporting farmers, but doing it in a commercial way.”

Oliver said that the World Food Programme was educating farmers on sustainable agriculture practices.

Oliver… “So the booking agents would then go out and work with these farmers who've now been educated on these new practices, who are now demanding these services. Now this equipment does not exist in the market yet. It's a great kind of evolution of somebody who just came in as a, basically with a cell phone. That's what they had. And now they're making good money as a booking agent. And now (they’re) graduating to a fleet owner.”

Hello Tractor could then provide the unique platform to bring this technology to farmers.

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