From farm to phone to table: A case study series explores the impact of digital tools on agriculture
This blog by NextBillion discusses a case study series by USAID, which highlights different approaches to digital tool adoption and how these tools impact organizational culture, operations and programming. A key focus of the series is on understanding the collective impact of digital tools while trying to assess the status quo without them. Each case study examines the specific digital landscape in which the activity is operating and how this affects the choice of tools and options for dissemination. No two digital integration experiences are the same, and the case studies reveal the adoption of a diverse set of digital tools ranging in complexity, customization and focus. In Senegal, for instance, Naatal Mbay is using basic tools like Microsoft Excel and Dropbox to demonstrate to producer-serving organizations the power of data for more effective programming. In contrast, One Acre Fund built a custom tablet app to enroll clients faster and with fewer mistakes. The new app replaces a paper-based process for field officers and prompts them to nudge clients about new and tailored products available for purchase. Musoni, a completely cashless micro-finance institution, designed a loan product specifically for smallholder farmers, with flexible terms and a customizable grace period based on a farmer’s seasonal cash flow. More case studies will be published here.