The need to deepen food security and production has always been one of the core responsibilities of any nation in the world, Nigeria inclusive. Having said this, Afrimash Limited, an indigenous eCommerce firm based in Ibadan, Oyo state has literally taken the “bull by the horns” by ensuring that Nigerian farmers get the best inputs such as equipment and quality products that will enable them increase food productivity and making agriculture convenient.
Deploying information technology (IT) tools such as web portal, electronic payment and robust logistics to ensure that these inputs get to farmers. The company highlighted the challenges that farmers face in sourcing quality products and has been doing their best to bridge these gaps through robust IT solutions.
Speaking to the media on how Afrimash Limited has been engaging farmers over four years.Ahmed Ayoade Oyedotun, the Chief Executive Officer and Co- Founder of Afrimash limited said “We are an eCommerce platform based in Ibadan, Oyo state. We basically connect farmers with quality kits and products. What we do is basically connect farmers to good agricultural inputs. We deliver nationwide. We started in 2016 and we are about 4 years now. We can be said to be an eCommerce platform that is agricultural oriented where farmers can get tools, inputs and other agricultural inputs. Our core aim is to make agriculture convenient. We are a very valuable, sustainable, and profitable organization that provides premium value to customers via the contribution of a talented workforce who enjoy providing quality service to customers.”
“One thing that eCommerce does is that it makes it easy for suppliers and buyers to meet but in agriculture it is a different ball game, we are talking about life products like day old chicks etc. Access to quality inputs is one of the biggest challenges that a farmer faces in Nigerian and Africa. We are here to bridge that gap. Today, a lot of farmers have access to internet and we have broadband deployment that is spread out so we are leveraging on these communication infrastructures such as widespread availability of internet and broadband technology. Though apart from internet access we developed a hybrid system that makes it easy for farmers to buy even without internet”, Ahmed added.
On the market acceptability, the company noted that over the years, famers have come to believe and have confidence in them, this has transcended to a higher patronage.
Speaking of patronage and market acceptability Eshett Goodness Mfonobong, The Lead Communication Executive of Afrimash Limited said “when we started over the years, a lot of pessimist said that farmers are not online, but trust me, we have come to realize that this is wrong. With high repeat customers and a lot of our customers come through referral. We have a lot of referrals and they always send others to come back because we mase shopping easier for them and we ensure that we have quality products that we deliver to these farmers. So, the market or the farmers have come to accept us over the years for what we stand for which is quality and effectiveness. ”
The company encourage government and financiers to partner with farmers for increased food production and security in the country. “We are very open to partnership with government organizations, states, training institutions, financiers and development organizations. We want to partner with them in providing quality services to these farmers in order to deepen food security in the country…. We want to use technology to achieve this, in the next 20 years there might be high demand for food in the world and every partnership that we can go into that will make agriculture convenient is welcomed”, Ahmed concluded.
With core aim of connecting farmers with quality kits and products. Afrimash started in 2016 and we are about 4 years now with over 40,000 farmers as clients and customers. An eCommerce platform that is agricultural oriented where farmers can get tools, inputs and other agricultural inputs. Working with set of very important core values that guide every such as Prioritization, Excellence, Speed and Integrity.
