FEATURED : BK TecHouse, RAB upgrade Smart Nkunganire System

Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) and BK TecHouse are reviewing and upgrading the Smart Nkunganire System, by assessing the main achievements, challenges and recommendations towards a renewal of the existing agreement. Smart Nkunganire System (SNS) is a supply chain management system that was built in 2017 by BK TecHouse Ltd, in collaboration with Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) to digitalise the end to end value chain of the Agro-Input Subsidy program. SNS is a critical strategic tool for all stakeholders in the Agro-Input subsidy program, as it significantly increases efficiency, productivity, transparency and bridges communication gaps within the Agro-Input subsidy program. Patrick Karangwa, The Director-General of RAB speaks to the media during the workshop on May 13, 2022. Dan Nsengiyumva BK TecHouse and RAB, on Friday May 13, conducted a one-day workshop to assess system implementation ahead of renewal of the existing agreement. “Now, it’s time to even upgrade it and include more services and make it a one-stop center that holds together agricultural related services such as extension services, market linkages, and others. This will increase the input use and improve production,” said Patrick Karangwa, the Director General of RAB. So far the system is being used by about two million farmers registered using USSD code *774#. The platform is used by over 600 government officials, 1,754 agro-dealers with 3,114 selling points/shops. “When people were using papers to order and buy agro-inputs, it was risky because such papers can be lost. The cashless way ensures transparency in the agro-inputs distribution,” he said. He noted that the system also helps in national planning for the agriculture sector. “With best agricultural practices and access to quality agro-inputs, the agricultural output has increased and keeps increasing,”Karangwa said. Karangwa said that the improvement will ensure effective distribution management adding that incorporating financial institutions, insurance providers and agricultural product buyers are in progress. Participants follow a presentation on Smart Nkunganire System a supply chain management system that was built in 2017 by BK TecHouse Ltd, in collaboration with Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board. The upgraded system will have features that educate farmers on best agricultural practices through extension services, information on crop diseases breaking out, weather information, market availability for the harvest, among other features that were not previously included. “We are doing an assessment of what we have to improve in the system by gathering views from beneficiaries and stakeholders,” he said. Jean Claude Munyangabo, the CEO of BK TecHouse said that the agreement to operate Smart Nkunganire System, since 2017, has been achieved at 95 percent. “Now as we renew the agreement, we have also to look at what we have to improve in the system and what we can add in it. That is why we gathered all stakeholders, agro-dealers, farmers, suppliers, local government and others on Friday to sit and evaluate the system, achievements and see how to address any challenges before renewing the agreement with RAB,” he noted. He said that the version two of the system that is upgraded will be available in the next agricultural season in July this year. “The version two will be well improved, responsive and user-friendly. In the renewal of the agreement with RAB, we have to consider digitisation of the agro-inputs value chain. Under the new agreement, we will add extension services so that farmers will be easily trained on how to use the agro-inputs, types of agro-inputs. With this, farmers can also ask questions from suppliers and RAB,” he said. Munyangabo added that the system will also use data analytics. “This means analysis of data we have in the system which we have to share with financial institutions so that they are able to develop financial services that will support the farmers by giving them loans. This will motivate more farmers to buy agro-inputs and increase productivity,” he said. He noted that some of the challenges include network connectivity issues in remote areas of the country, low digital literacy and farmers who have no digital devices such as mobile phones. “We must also continue to train agro-dealers on using digital tools in the system such as MOPA” he said. BK TecHouse and RAB workshop took place on on Friday May 13.Courtesy Mobile Ordering and Processing Application (MOPA) is part of the Smart Nkunganire System that will be used by agro-dealers in Rwanda. He added with the upgraded version, the Smart Nkunganire System might also work while off-line (without internet). “The agro-dealer will be able to use the system while off-line but when gets the internet, the system will synchronize to update the information using the internet6,” he said.

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FEATURED : BK TecHouse, RAB upgrade Smart Nkunganire System