Frederic Masse
Persol Systems Limited, a software developer, systems integrator and IT consulting firm, in partnership with SAP South Africa (Pty) Limited, has introduced a new software platform to provide sustainable market for farmers.
The SAP Rural Sourcing Management (SAP RSM) and SAP Commerce Marketplace (SAP CM) software solution harness the potential of transforming the lives of farmers across Africa by addressing market inefficiencies.
To be available in the App store (iOS) and Google Play store (Android), the solution is expected to gather, analyse and distribute data on market trends of farm produce to farmers.
Federic Masse, Head of Agriculture Industry in Africa, SAP, said collecting data from farmers and giving it to them would open opportunities for them to access loans, insurance and training.
“The platform also guarantees farmers the capacity to sell their produce by offering them direct access to the market, as well as provide information about prices of their various crops on the market to regulate the asymmetries of information where the buyers know the prices and not the sellers,” he added.
He added that SAP RSM and SAP CM will start collecting data in September, this year.
He expressed the hope that the system could mobilise between 20,000 and 30,000 farmers in the system.
Managing Director of Persol Systems Limited, Michael Quarshie, said the partnership with SAP to provide solutions would fill existing gaps in the agricultural supply chain of the country.
He added: “The solution allows us to close that gap and also bring in farmers closer to the market as well as provide the intermediation that is necessary to resolve the information asymmetries and the market inefficiencies that currently exist.”
“As a platform operator, we are engaging training agents, certification companies, aggregators, who finally will engage with the farmers and then we connect them to banks, off takers, input providers, insurance companies and that creates a 360 degrees loop that bridges the gap,” he added.
Mr. Quarshie hinted that the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) and Ghana Grains Council (GGC) would help achieve the aims.
By Brimah Mohammed