FERMA

Ottawa, CanadaIsmael Kabore

$3,545

Raised of $16,000 CAD

Fundraising ended on Jun 21, 2022
5 supporters
22%%

About This Project

To help young farmers of Sub-Sharan Africa maximize their productivity, FERMA, a web-based farming management software and a farmer's market networking platform, was developed considering cultural, economic, and social factors.

My name Ismaël Kabore, Director, and Product Designer of MDCOSS, and also initiator of this project; I am a software full stack designer who moved to Canada seven years ago from West Africa. The lack of resources for young African entrepreneurs in general is something I have experienced growing up there.

I am grateful to have access to some of Canada's technological resources, and I wish to share them with others of fewer means. Therefore, even though all farming exploitations that use the solution are in sub-Saharan Africa, 80% of all resources including tech resources, employees, servers, facilities, will remain in Canada.

Technology is becoming increasingly relevant to the new generation of African farmers despite the lack of substantial resources to enhance access to it.

There are roughly 33 million smallholder farms in Africa, and the farmers living there contribute up to 70% of the food supply. 50 days after launching the beta version of our web application, 646 farming operations across 14 countries enrolled in and began using it free of charge. We are ready to take the next step and register FERMA as a not-for-profit service.

FERMA has features that allow farmers to manage livestock, crops, yield mapping, human resources, inventory, equipment, warehouse, and accounting free of charge, and most importantly, a module to connect farmers with their local market in real time through a bulk SMS system.

Our goal is to create an efficient farming network and farming product's marketplace in sub-Saharan Africa by connecting countries, regions, cities, and farmers to a potential of 500 to 10,000 customers in real time in their respective locations. We also aim to increase the pace of farming digitalization. The farmers have access to data analysis and training videos to learn how to optimize their revenues, improve their daily lives and their local economy.

As of today, 100% of the investment, including financial support and technical support, comes from the founder, Ismaël Kabore.

  • SaaS Development Resources (Progressive Web Application)
  • Bulk SMS Admin Side
  • Hosting and Servers Resources ( Servers located in Canada)
  • Social Media Marketing Resources (Facebook and Twitter marketing and digital contents)
  • Research and Development Resources (Agriculture Industry)
  • Administrative Action (Incorporations and Legal Matters)

If you need any additional information, please feel free to contact us at [email protected]

The Project's website: www.a-ferma.com

Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/277241307914385

Use Of Funds

$16,000 Tipping Point Goal

Your support would help

  • Scale the web application and develop the mobile version: The beta version was launched as a web application and required constant updates and extensive database management, furthermore, the web application is progressive, meaning it works well on mobile devices and tablets, but we need to make it native and give it the capability to be used offline, since most farmers work in remote locations with no internet connection.
  • Enhance digital marketplace and network through SMS notification system: In order to reach 500 to 100,000 potential customers, each farmer can receive SMS notifications within a radius of 150 miles. This requires an API integration with a low-cost third party in North America.
  • Enhance the training programs using videos and live streaming: To assist our users, we have set up a training program to help them understand how to optimize their daily operations using the application. The trainings are given via videos and streamings, and by phone and message support as well.
  • Develop social media promotion campaigns: We have enrolled 1,600 members in 45 days from Senegal, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Chad, RDC, Cameroun, Mauritania, Algeria, Togo, Benin, and Ivory Coast, and 62% of those members are between the ages of 25 to 35. We will run more campaigns to collect more data to understand their actual needs.
  • Establish local partnerships in each country where our users live: Currently, we are working on partnerships in each country where our users live to ensure that we comply with regulations and meet the needs of local farmers to screen how our solution impacts them.

$27,000 Stretch Goal

Through the achievement of this stretch goal, we will be able to apply for an employment grant to hire additional staff, thereby supporting our mission even more effectively. We look forward to expanding the team and creating employment, so Canadians can also benefit from the success of this project.


Latest News

Jun 19, 2022

29 hours left

Even though we didn't make it, we're glad we tried, and even though we didn't succeed, we'll be stronger and use what we've learned from this experience. Our program has reached almost 1000 small farming operations in less than 100 days since it launched. We thank the StartSomeGood team for giving us the opportunity to get some exposure for our project. We thank our donors on this platform as well as outside of it for their contributions.



Jun 03, 2022

Milestones and Resources

A total of 1000 farming operations are on their way to registration in 69 days from now in a total of 14 countries in the region. For a non-profit project to be successful, it is vital that it is supported. When we are able to reach this milestone with little resources, the sky is the limit with more resources.



May 21, 2022

Day 2

We are grateful for our early supporters. Please take the time to share, even if you aren't able to make a donation, we would appreciate any support. I want to let you know about our digital art rewards: this is a hand-made graphite drawing depicting farming operations in a farming facility, including livestock and cropping. The resolution can be increased or reduced according to your preference.

A Model of digital drawing you will get (The old farmer) 14x17" pencil on bristol by Dave Kobrenski. PS: This is just an Illustration



May 21, 2022

Fundraising began

Our crowdfund is underway, and we have support from friends, family, and partners. 31 one days remain, so let's work together to grow this project and help the new generation of african farmers build their own futures. Thank you all for your support!



Rewards

Select Reward
Acknowledgement
$10.00

With your authorization, your name will be included on our website as a supporter of the organization and a shout out of gratitude on social media. Your name will remain on our donor list and database forever, regardless of the amount you pledged.

Unlimited

Select Reward
Custom Ballpoint Pen + Acknowledgement
$20.00

We will send you a customized and symbolic ballpoint pen with your name on it and a "Thank You" message for your support. Furthermore, with your authorization, your name will be included on our website as a supporter of the organization and a shout out of gratitude on social media.

499 left

Select Reward
Digital Art + Acknowledgement
$50.00

As a token of our gratitude, we will send you a digital painting illustrating farming activity in sub-Saharan Africa, measuring 4000 X 4000. Furthermore, with your authorization, your name will be included on our website as a supporter of the organization and a shout out of gratitude on social media.

Unlimited

Select Reward
Corporate or Organization Acknowledgement
$500.00

If you are an organization or corporate that supports our project, we will list your brand as a supporter on our corporate partner's page and also feature the brand at any event hosted by the FERMA. Also, we will send you a digital graphite drawing (4000 X 4000) that illustrates farming activity in Sub-Saharan Africa and a thank-you message on our social media.

Unlimited