TracTrac: Local agri-tech startup launches USSD, targets 2m farmers

 

An innovative Agri-tech startup, TracTrac, deploys its Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) code (*347*456#) to bring on board relevant stakeholders; smallholder farmers, booking and hiring agents as well as private tractor owners in preparation for the next farming season.

TracTrac renders numerous services that improve the supply and distribution of tractors in Nigeria. With the goal to onboard 2,000,000 farmers in two years, crowdsource for 5000 tractors and crowdfund 600 tractors, the AgTech startup adopts several innovative strategies to enhance Agricultural Mechanisation.

In a media briefing on Wednesday, March 24, with the Project Officer, User Onboarding, Dr. Adeolu Joseph disclosed that “TracTrac seeks to get as many persons as possible enrolled to enable the effective and fair circulation of tractors as well as other mechanisation services”. He further stated that “The pilot project would take place in the North-eastern states of Nigeria such as Adamawa, Taraba and Gombe as the need for such services in those regions is on a high side”.

“According to the 2020 Global hunger Index, Nigeria ranks 98 out of 107 countries (Global Hunger Index: 2020). The World Bank reports that the 45000 tractors currently available in the country is far short of the estimated 81,000 tractors that would be needed to satisfy the demand for tractors (World bank: 2014).

“With its strategy to crowdfund and crowdsource tractors leveraging technology, Tractrac aims to not only make tractors readily and easily accessible but facilitates adequate tractor services to all farmers irrespective of their location. Tractrac also seeks to make farming and its processes easy and enjoyable for farmers to discourage drudgery and make farming more interesting for all”.

“Giving that many of its beneficiaries particularly; farmers, community-based booking and hiring agents and private tractor owners, are not tech-inclined, do not possess smartphones (android or IOS) and have little or no knowledge about how they operate these devices to enroll on its online platform or book tractor hiring services, the USSD solution devises a means where any mobile phone holder can easily get enlisted and demand the required services, getting real-time responses”.

“Furthermore, he stated that they are more likely to have complications with the internet as they reside in very remote and internet- unfriendly areas, making it difficult to easily access and enroll TracTrac tractor services. The USSD works on all types of mobile phones and across all mobile networks. Most farmers, as well as potential agents, are able to easily onboard via USSD code (*347*456#) as it is more of the usual for them.

“Indeed, there is a need for increased mechanisation services to guarantee a rise in the food production level. To this end, TracTrac aims at bridging this gap by promoting access to mechanisation for increased productivity. “Tractrac is leaving no stone unturned in her quest to emancipate smallholder crop farmers across the nation. The USSD onboarding strategy has been proven to be effective time and again. This time, all players within the various agricultural value chains are enjoined to support the drive, as we move towards creating a mechanised economy and ensure food security”.