Education
Project Summary
AgriSmart Zanzibar is a groundbreaking digital agriculture initiative designed to empower smallholder farmers in Zanzibar with cutting-edge digital tools, real-time data, and smart farming practices. The project bridges traditional knowledge with modern innovation to boost productivity, ensure food security, and promote climate-smart agriculture in one of East Africa’s most agriculturally rich but under-resourced regions.
Objectives:
- Digital Empowerment: Provide 5,000+ farmers with access to a mobile app offering weather forecasts, market prices, pest alerts, and agronomic advice in Kiswahili and English.
- Smart Data Systems: Launch a GIS-based dashboard for real-time farm analytics and remote monitoring.
- Agri-Education & Training: Conduct community-based digital literacy programs and workshops on climate-smart farming techniques.
- Market Access: Connect farmers to buyers, cooperatives, and agri-financiers via a mobile B2B marketplace.
- Sustainability & Scale: Establish a farmer-led digital cooperative to manage tools long-term.
Key Features of AgriSmart App
- Live Weather Alerts (localized to island zones)
- Real-Time Market Prices (vegetables, spices, fruits)
- AI-Powered Pest & Disease Diagnostic Tool.
- Crop Calendar & Smart Irrigation Tips.
- Video Tutorials & Farmer Forums.
- Marketplace Integration for buying/selling.
Implementation Phases
| Phase | Description | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | Stakeholder Engagement & App Development | Month 1–4 |
| Phase 2 | Pilot Launch in 3 Districts (Unguja & Pemba) | Month 5–7 |
| Phase 3 | Training & Digital Literacy Campaign | Month 8–12 |
| Phase 4 | Scale-Up to All 11 Districts | Month 13–18 |
| Phase 5 | Evaluation, Reporting & Handover to Local Cooperatives | Month 19–24 |
Budget Breakdown (24-Month Project Timeline)
| Category | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Technology Development | |
| - Mobile App (Android/iOS) | $35,000 |
| - Dashboard & Data Backend | $20,000 |
| - Server & Cloud Hosting (2 yrs) | $10,000 |
| Training & Capacity Building | |
| - Digital Literacy Workshops | $15,000 |
| - Training Videos & Content Dev | $5,000 |
| - Local Trainers & Facilitators | $12,000 |
| Pilot & Scaling Operations | |
| - Devices for Farmers (subsidized smartphones/tablets) | $40,000 |
| - Transport & Field Logistics | $10,000 |
| - Monitoring & Evaluation | $8,000 |
| Marketing & Community Outreach | |
| - Radio, Posters, SMS Campaigns | $5,000 |
| - Farmer Cooperative Setup | $5,000 |
| Personnel | |
| - Project Manager (24 months) | $24,000 |
| - Technical Developer (Contract) | $18,000 |
| - Local Field Officers (x3) | $21,600 |
| Contingency (10%) | $22,660 |
| Total Estimated Budget | $248,260 |
Partners & Stakeholders
- Zanzibar Ministry of Agriculture.
- Local Farmer Cooperatives.
- ICT for Development NGOs.
- International Donors (FAO, IFAD, GIZ)
- Private Sector (Telecoms, Fintech)
Sustainability Plan
- Farmer subscription model for premium services ($0.50/month)
- Revenue-sharing from marketplace transactions.
- Capacity-building for local tech teams.
- Partnership with universities for research & app updates.
Expected Impact
- +30% yield increase among digitally supported farmers.
- 50% reduction in post-harvest losses.
- 75% of users report improved market access.
- 2,000 women and youth trained in agri-digital skills.
