Disrupting Agricultural Norms and Challenging Climate Fate in Africa

Introduction

In the heart of Tanzania's agricultural landscape, a quietrnrevolution is taking place that challenges age-old farming practices andrnpromises to reshape the future of agriculture. MazaoHub, an innovativernagricultural platform, has ignited discussions and controversies, particularlyrnsurrounding its profound impact on climate-sensitive practices. As the worldrngrapples with the challenges of a changing climate, MazaoHub stands as a boldrncontender offering transformative solutions to farmers. In this in-depth exploration,rnwe delve into MazaoHub's journey, address climate-related questions, and variousrntestimonies since its inception.

MazaoHub AI AgronomyrnModule

Think about this challenge: on average in Tanzania and otherrnAfrican countries, one extension officer is responsible for managing over 3000rnsmallholder farmers in their village, and they do this manually. They arernlegally required to visit 7 farmers per day and record information with pen andrnpaper. They must provide agronomic advice and track the progress of eachrnfarmer, which can be difficult manually, and sometimes they forget what advicernthey gave. As a result, many farmers are left without help, leading to trialrnand error farming practices, poor-quality produce, and low productivity.

MazaoHub AI Agronomy is the first module of MazaoHub ClimaternFarm Management Software, serving as its foundation. It uses AI technology tornstreamline personalized agronomy services for each farmer, bridging the gap andrneasy communication between farmers, remote extension officers and decisionrnmakers including farm planning, cost analysis, and projections. It streamlinernactivities from field mapping, land preparation, sowing, fertilizerrnapplication, pest control, and more, all tailored to the farmer based on thernthe specific village, soil, crop, climate, and other factors. Extensionrnofficers can use this AI Agronomy module to manage or control remote extensionrnservices, all related tasks efficiently and communication with other keyrnplayers or decision makers.

Imagine a farmer or extension officer receivingrnnotifications on their mobile device, reminding them of tasks in their fields.rnMazaoHub's AI system uses data from soil tests, weather conditions, and croprndetails to provide customized guidance on various farming activities, fromrnplanting to harvesting. This eliminates the need for pen and paper, andrnextension officers can monitor farmers' progress using their phones, powered byrnAI technology.

MazaoHub doesn't stop at harvest; it also offers guidance onrnpost-harvest procedures, storage, and marketing. The platform's traceabilityrnreport is valuable for buyers, ensuring transparency and quality assurancernthroughout the cultivation process.

MazaoHub is more than just AI Agronomy; it's a completernextension management system that covers all farming stages. By combining AIrnrecommendations with on-ground expertise, it empowers farmers to succeed inrnmodern agriculture sustainably. In an era where sustainable farming andrnresource management are crucial, MazaoHub's AI Agronomy Module is arngame-changing solution that helps farmers prosper and supports sustainablernagriculture.

MazaoHub AI Agronomy Module has already reached over 33,800rnfarmers(users), including 800 extension officers supervising these farmers,rnmainly through farmer groups, cooperatives, and commercial farmers. Thisrnapproach has made it easier and more cost-effective to reach a large number ofrnfarmers.

These are the crops covered by MazaoHub farm managementrnsystem that are extensively cultivated in Africa(Tanzania). Each product comesrnwith its own set of modules covering Good Agricultural Practices, soilrnnutrients needed, tropical conditions needed for each crop growth, knowledge onrncultivation techniques, treatment methods, and fertilizer, pesticide, andrninsecticide requirements. Tailored Agronomy services provided by MazaoHub arernbased on tailored analysis of the specific area's soil, village, crop, season,rnclimate, and other factors.

Cereals and Grains:

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1. Wheat
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2. Rice
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3. Cornrn (Maize)
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4. Barley
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5. Oats
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6. Sorghum
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7. Millet
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Pulses (Legumes):

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1. Chickpeas
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2. Peas
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3. Beans
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4. Soybeans
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Oilseeds:

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1. Sunflower
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2. Cottonseed
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3. Sesame
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Fruits:

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1. Avocado
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2. Apples
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3. Bananas
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4. Grapes
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5. Oranges
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6. Mangoes
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7. Strawberries
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8. Pineapples
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9. Watermelons
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10. Peaches
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11. Pears
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Vegetables:

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1. Tomatoes
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2. Potatoes
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3. Carrots
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4. Lettuce
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5. Cucumbers
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6. Peppersrn (Bell peppers, Chili peppers)
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7. Onions
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8. Spinach
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9. Broccoli
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10. Cauliflower
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Root Crops:

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1. Potatoes
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2. Sweetrn Potatoes
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3. Beets
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4. Cassava
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Nuts:

i.           rnAlmonds

ii.           rnWalnuts

iii.           rnCashews

iv.           rnPeanuts

MazaoHub'srnResponse to Climate Challenges

A central pillar of MazaoHub's revolutionary approach is dedicatedrncommitment to mitigating climate-related concerns within agriculture. Onernnoteworthy aspect of MazaoHub's impact is its contribution to Soil Health. Wernall know that our soil is already under stress due to a number of factors,rnincluding overgrazing, deforestation, and unsustainable agricultural practices.rnClimate change is exacerbating these problems, leading to increased soil erosion,rnreduced soil fertility, and decreased crop yields.

To address those challenges, let's break down MazaoHub's SoilrnAnalysis and Recommendation Module. Using MazaoHub cutting-edge Soil Scanners,rnthe platform analyzes soil samples, revealing soil nutrient levels andrndeficiencies. This information guides recommendations for precise fertilizerrnapplication, tailored to the specific needs of crops and soil. By optimizingrnfertilizer usage, not only are costs reduced, but the environment benefits asrnwell. Over-fertilization using mineral fertilizers contributes to nutrientrnrunoff, which can contaminate water sources and harm ecosystems. But thernquestions linger: How exactly does this work, and how does it relate tornclimate-conscious practices? Any Milestones?

In the MazaoHub Farm Management system, each of our SoilrnScanner is assigned with a unique identity number that is integrated orrnregistered with the MazaoHub Farm Management Software to enable communicationrnbetween sensors and the software. This integration allows farmers to receivernpersonalized soil analysis and recommendations. Our Soil Scanners are labeledrnwith numbers starting with MZH. Currently, a total of 50 Soil Scanners havernbeen manufactured and numbered.

In order for a farmer to perform a soil test, they mustrnchoose the unique identity number of the Soil Scanner present at the testingrnlocation. For instance, if a farmer visits an Agro dealer or the leader ofrntheir farmers' group to conduct a soil test, they must first select thernspecific identity number of the Soil Scanner available at that location withrntheir soil samples.

Once they choose their Soil Scanner number in the MazaoHubrnApp and conduct the soil test, the soil sample report is automaticallyrndelivered to the MazaoHub farmer's account within 5 minutes. Furthermore, thernperson conducting the soil test can move on to another farmer and use the samernSoil Scanner. By selecting the corresponding Soil Scanner number and insertingrnit into the soil, the report is sent to the farmer after 5 minutes.

For each acre, we take one or more samples depending on thernfield's topography. A significant portion of the farmers we started testingrnsoil for are those who are part of farming groups. The farmers whose soil wernhave successfully tested amount to 5,701 farmers, covering a total of 24,090rnacres, with a cumulative count of 25,999 Soil Tests conducted so far.

More than 80% of the 5,701 farmers who utilized the MazaoHubrnSoil Analysis and Recommendations and rnall steps have been able to double their productivity. Others havernmanaged to reduce the cost of using excessive fertilizers by cutting downrnexpenses by over 30%. Furthermore, some have successfully minimized thernimproper application of mineral fertilizers. Within the MazaoHub Soil Scannersrnsystem, all types of fertilizers used by Tanzanian farmers are cataloged. Thesernfertilizers, common among all farmers using MazaoHub Farm Management System,rnrange from UREA, a type of fertilizer that provides three primary nutrients:rnNitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K).

Another type of fertilizer is Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP).rnAnd calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN). And Nitrogen-Phosphorous-Potassiumrnfertilizer (NPK). MazaoHub Farm Management have included all the fertilizersrnlike a databank for fertilizers used by farmers, they are branded in variousrnnames but they equally same covering nutrients mentioned.

Furthermore, MazaoHub incorporates or provide analysis onrnSoil PH, Soil Moisture and the Organic Manure component, which measures thernorganic nutrient content of the soil, including Lime and more. Farmers whorntested their soils, the MazaoHub Soil Sensors have generated reports of thernlacking nutrients in their soil, including Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium,rnZinc, Magnesium, Temperature, Humidity, Soil pH, and more. MazaoHub maintains arndata bank of required nutrients for each mentioned crop to enhance productivity.rnUsing AI, MazaoHub provides fertilizer recommendations within its system,rnspecifying the quantity, ratio, and timing of fertilizer use for each crop,rneach field. Additionally, it guides farmers on utilizing Crop rotation tornpreserve the soil's organic content. MazaoHub has gone a step further byrnadvising farmers not to invest more in mineral fertilizer application whenrnresults indicate an inadequate of organic content in their soils.

This comprehensive approach has resulted in increased yields,rnimproved production, and success for farmers utilizing MazaoHub-Soil Sensors.rnAbove all, it has fostered sustainable agriculture for these farmers.

Revolutionizingrnthe Traditional Agrodealer Business Model

We all know that the primary focus of most agro dealers isrnto sell more and more fertilizer. They want more sales, plain and simple. Whenrna farmer goes to an input shop to buy agricultural supplies, the agro dealer dornnot have a tool to check that farmer's history of input usage. Their main goalrnis to make more sale.

For instance, a farmer might visit an agro dealer's shop andrnask for "NINJA INSECTICIDE" because another farmer recommended it tornhim. The farmer buys NINJA and uses it on his farm without considering therncorrect dosage or the type of soil. Even though the same farmer had usedrn"KUNG FU INSECTICIDE" on the same soil before, but with a higherrndosage. The farmer uses NINJA solely because another farmer suggested it, evenrnthough NINJA serves the same purpose as KUNG FU. This leads to crop damage.

This problem arises when agro dealers lack a record of arnfarmer's past input use. All they know is how to make a sale. Imagine if theyrnhad a system that allowed them to check a farmer's input usage history andrnperformance before selling anything. For example, before selling inputs to arnfarmer, they could check the system to see what fertilizer or insecticide the farmerrnused last time and the condition of their soil or crop among other things. Thernabsence of such a system contributes to climate change and farmers'rninconsistent practices.

At MazaoHub, we have Agro Dealer Farm Management Module,rnwhich transforms ordinary agro input stores into farmer support centers, or asrnwe call them in Swahili, "KLINIKI ZA KILIMO." We provide them with arnsystem that allows them to manage their farmers, understand their agro inputrnusage history, and track each farmer's production history. It also helps withrnfarmer relationship management and provides a system for managing input sales,rnpurchases, and expenses, acting as a Point of Sale (POS) with automatedrnaccounting reports based on accounting standards.

With this tool, agro dealers can invest more in theirrnbusinesses and provide farmers with quality services, data, financial reports,rncredit scoring, and much more, ultimately improving the lives of smallholderrnfarmers. We also collaborate with agro dealers by providing them with Soil Scanners,rnwhich they can use to assess soil conditions for farmers before selling themrnfertilizer. Currently, we have a network of 350 agro dealers who are partnersrnwith MazaoHub and use the MazaoHub Farm Management Software.

Streamlining Off taking and SupplyrnChain in Agriculture Value Chain.

For off-takers and manufacturers, one of the biggestrnchallenges in the agricultural value chain is sourcing raw materials fromrnsmallholder farmers. This is because it can be difficult to find farmers whornare producing the quality and quantity of produce that meets their standards.rnAs a result, off-takers often have to pay high prices to middlemen who travelrnto rural areas to find farmers and their crops. In some cases, the crops thatrnare brought in do not meet the quality standards of the off-taker's customers.

MazaoHub offers a module known as Crop Sourcing and Offtaking,rnwhich empowers off-takers, manufacturers, or commodity traders to enter intorncontracts with individual farmers or farmer groups to purchase their crops. Anrnoff-taker can monitor crop production from the moment a farmer prepares theirrnland, ensuring that the farmer produces according to their quality standards.

Moreover, off-takers can collectively source crops from farmerrncooperatives or farmers' groups and manage the collection process includingrnpayment to each individual farmer in the group using the crop collectionrnmodule. They can register their operators or use operators within the MazaoHubrnplatform to oversee or streamline crop collection process. Off-takers can alsorntrack which crops are expected to be harvested when and where at what quantityrnor quality. They can find out who planted what and where.

They can access production reports for each farmer orrnfarmers at various levels, from the village level to the national level,rnincluding details about the fertilizers, insecticides or any associatedrnchemicals used and the expected yield. MazaoHub provides off-takers with arntraceability tool that allows them to have complete visibility from thernfarmers, including invoicing and contract farming tools to facilitate thernpurchase of farmers' crops. Off-takers can use the off-taker management modulernto oversee the production of their farmers. Off-takers can make purchases fromrnanywhere, eliminating the need for them to travel to various regions to findrncrops based on their standards. They can use the system to communicate withrncooperatives or farmers who have the quality and quantity of crops they need,rnas the system displays the quality and production level of available crops,rnlocation with google maps to make easy on planning logistics issues.

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• Thisrn module provides off takers with visibility into crop production,rn including:
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• Croprn type and variety
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• Quantity
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• Quality
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• Location
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• Thern module also helps off takers to manage crop collection and logistics,rn warehousing i.e storage
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Benefits of Using MazaoHub's Crop Sourcing and Off takingrnModule:

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• Offrn takers can source high-quality crops at competitive prices.
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• Offrn takers can reduce the risk of supply disruptions.
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• Offrn takers can improve their efficiency and productivity.
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MazaoHub also offers a number of other features that canrnbenefit off-takers and manufacturers, including:

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• Marketrn insights: MazaoHub provides off-takers with market insights, such asrn price trends and demand forecasts, to help them to make informed decisionsrn about their sourcing strategies.
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• Financialrn services: MazaoHub partners with financial institutions to offerrn off-takers and farmers access to financing to support their agriculturalrn activities.
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• Trainingrn and support: MazaoHub offers training and support to off-takers andrn farmers to help them to use the platform effectively.
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• Marketrn Data: MazaoHub offers users real-time market data for agriculturalrn products, providing insights into prices, volumes, and market trends. Thisrn data empowers users to make informed decisions when buying and sellingrn agricultural products.
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• Productrn Search: With MazaoHub, users can easily search for agriculturalrn products by name, category, and region. This feature helps buyers locatern the specific products they need while comparing prices to find the bestrn deals.
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• Supplierrn Directory: MazaoHub maintains a comprehensive directory of verifiedrn agricultural product suppliers. This directory aids buyers in findingrn reliable suppliers that align with their quality and pricing requirements.
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• Requestrn for Quotation (RFQ): Buyers can leverage MazaoHub to send RFQs torn multiple suppliers simultaneously. This efficient process assists buyersrn in obtaining competitive prices for the products they intend to purchase.
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• Purchasern Order (PO) Management: MazaoHub centralizes PO management for buyers,rn allowing them to track the status of their orders from a single location.rn This feature ensures orders are fulfilled accurately and on time.
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• Contractrn Management: Buyers can efficiently manage their contracts withrn suppliers using MazaoHub. This feature enables tracking of contract termsrn and compliance, ensuring that agreements are upheld.
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• Paymentrn Management: MazaoHub simplifies payment processes by enabling buyersrn to make payments to suppliers directly through the platform. Thisrn streamlines payment procedures while reducing the risk of fraud.
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• Shippingrn Management: MazaoHub provides a comprehensive view of the shipmentrn status for buyers. This feature helps buyers monitor the movement of theirrn goods, ensuring timely and accurate deliveries to the intendedrn destinations.
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Currently, MazaoHub has more than 76 off-takers activelyrnutilizing this system. These off-takers represent a diverse range of businessesrnand organizations involved in the agricultural value chain, such asrnagricultural product buyers, manufacturers, and commodity traders. By adoptingrnMazaoHub's platform, these off-takers have gained access to a powerful suite ofrntools and features that enhance their operations and facilitate theirrninteractions with farmers and suppliers.

Our achievements speak volumes about our impact:

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1. Wern partnered with WFP Tanzania to digitize the Farm to Market Alliance (FTMA)rn Project, improving the livelihoods of farmers in the Southern Highlandsrn regions. 
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2. Wern collaborated with USAID Feed the Future to digitize the Kilimo Tijarn Project, enhancing agricultural practices in Tanzania.
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3. Wern received endorsement from the Ministry of Agriculture to digitize allrn agricultural boards, already transforming two boards successfully.
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4. Wern are digital partners in the "Building Better Tomorrow" youthrn farmers project initiative initiated by the President of Tanzaniarn with the target to reach more than 1Million youth farmers under BBT.
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