FARMERS will now be able to record their productivity and sales after a new PacFarmer app was launched at the 10th anniversary of the Pacific Financial Inclusion Programme.
The new app, which is a first of its kind in the Pacific was the result of a partnership between the United Nation’s PFIP, the University of the South Pacific, Vodafone Fiji Ltd and various farmer co-operatives and represented bodies.
A statement from PFIP said the new app would allow farmers in Fiji to not only access information on government support schemes, commodity prices and weather information, but other features, such as market linkages with potential buyers, digital payments, credit opportunities and other financial services.
In launching the app, the Australian Department of Trade and Foreign Affair’s regional counsellor Mathew Lapworth said the Australian Government was pleased to support the new digital innovation that would improve access to finance for Pacific Islanders including smallholder farmers and agri-businesses.
PFIP says the app will be piloted first with the Sugar Cane Growers Fund, Fiji Cooperatives Dairy Company Ltd, Copra Millers Fiji Ltd and Fiji Rice Ltd.
“Following this pilot, it will be made available to all other categories of farmers throughout Fiji.
“Whilst it is being piloted in Fiji, there are plans to roll out the app to other Pacific Island countries,” it said.
According to PFIP, the app will also be used during times of disasters to push relevant weather information that could be critical to farmers to determine when to move their families and livestock to higher ground thus mitigating some of the impact and costs related to natural disasters.
The App is only available on android phones and can be downloaded from Google Play Store.
