A Ghanaian-owned agriculture e-commerce platform, Asinyo.com is supporting local farmers to address post harvest losses they experience every year by linking them directly to buyers.
While paying a visit to a group of small-scale farmers in Takuve-Ziope in the Volta region, “most of the farmers who have limited or no formal education, confessed their struggle with frequent post-harvest losses, which force them to sell their produce for low prices despite the resources invested in the farming process.”
According to the farmers, the annual losses are due to the absence of a ready market and the poor road networks, which deter potential buyers. Sadly, a significant portion of their bumper harvests go to waste.
By way of contributing its quota to achieving food security and improving the income of hardworking farmers, representatives from Asinyo engaged the farmers in the area to “promote their marketplace and logistics platform, which offers improved pricing power, reduced risk of post-harvest loss, access to a broader market, and connections to merchants across Africa, ultimately enhancing their market competitiveness.”
Asinyo is acting as the vehicle between farmers and buyers as it ensures that food produced by farmers reaches consumers in a timely and efficient manner, while also reducing the impact on the environment. This is a crucial aspect of sustainable agriculture, as reducing food waste result in the conservation of resources and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The farmers and the e-commerce company engaged in an interactive session where they discussed their problems while Asinyo looked at how the platform could help them address the challenges they face to increase their incomes and lower food loss and waste. A total of 87 farmers—34 males and 53 females eagerly signed up to join the Asinyo marketplace and logistics platform.
Meanwhile, the team will have another training session for the interested farmers before the start of the next planting season. These sessions will help the farmers to improve their agricultural practices and increase their yields, leading to greater success and profitability
“The increased visibility and access to a broader customer base will enable the farmers to sell their products more effectively, resulting in higher earnings,” Asinyo said in a statement.
The logistics solutions offered by the platform can help to minimize food waste and loss, ensuring that the farmers receive maximum value for their products. Furthermore, the platform streamlines sales and logistics, making it easier for the farmers to sell their products and receive payment.
By providing a platform that connects farmers directly with customers, Asinyo is leveraging technology to help small-scale farmers in particular reduce intermediaries and increase their profits.
