SPECIAL FEATURE
Does Hello Tractor rely on existing mobile technology infrastructure? Hello Tractor’s technology has been supported from the get go by Kinvey ‘Mobile Backend as a Service’ or (mBaaS) infrastructure – a service that makes it easy for developers to set up, use, and operate a ‘cloud back-end’ for their mobile apps (see
bit.ly/back-end- tech). We have also invested in AWS (Amazon Web Services – scalable cloud computing services) as a
that has enabled us to scale across markets. We have partnered with organizations such as USAID, Aeris, the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center as well as the World Bank, which has been key in providing strategic support to fuel our growth. In addition, we recently established a public- private-partnership with John Deere and the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to deploy 10,000 tractors in Nigeria over the next five
FOR AFRICA’S SMALLHOLDER FARMERS
backup infrastructure to ensure that we never run into issues relating to data loss. Our IoT [internet of things] technology uses robust monitoring devices to store data in the cloud, which is then pushed to our android mobile app designed to give more farm-aware information than an SMS-based app.
What are the biggest challenges to running a business like yours (a social enterprise)? The ability to strike a balance between accomplishing the social mission behind establishing the company and running a sustainable business. It’s easy to get caught up in the drive to become profitable, especially as the list of investors grows, so that one could end up losing sight of the company’s intended mission. To avoid getting tangled in this web, social entrepreneurs need to form the habit of always keeping things in perspective. Getting to that point where one is able to properly balance social mission with profitability can be tough. But it’s definitely achievable.
What kind of partnerships have you developed along the way and how important has this support been? Hello Tractor has established partnerships across both the public and private sector – something
years. Hello Tractor will serve as an implementation partner, providing tractor monitoring, security and valuation support. It is estimated these tractors will bring nine million hectares of land into production, creating 37 million metric tons of additional food and over two million direct and indirect jobs.
Where next for Hello Tractor and the team? We are excited about what the future holds for us! We recently launched a new version of our mobile app with extended features to support both tractor owners and local agents aggregating farmer demand and we are continually working to ensure that our mobile app provides the best value to our customers. Our goal is to mechanize farming across sub- Saharan Africa as well as enter new markets and we have developed the
access a tractor is as good as owning a tractor.”
“I realized being able to Jehiel Oliver
Hello Tractor digital agricultural platform to improve the acquisition, optimization and maintenance of tractors used for business purposes. We believe that by increasing the supply and success of commercial tractor service providers, smallholder farmers will enjoy increased access to timely tractor services. Increased access to tractor services will lead to an increased area under production, higher productivity, and an increase in food output.
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