RATIN

SMART NKUNGANIRE SYSTEM TO ENHANCE ACCESS TO AGRIC

Posted on March, 22, 2018 at 11:08 am


Access to agriculture inputs will soon be easy following the introduction of ‘Smart Nkuganire’ (SNS) platform; an innovative tool to link and empower stakeholders involved in the subsidy programme that handles fertilizers, improved seeds, pesticides, mechanization and small-scale irrigation technology, among other items.

The new system, built by Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB) in collaboration with BK TecHouse, will also enable farmers to receive advisory messages from experts on best practice, as well as warnings or general notification from different stakeholders. The platform will be accessible to farmers and other stakeholders via a Mobile App, Unstructured Supplementary Standard Data (USSD) Short Code, and Web-Based App. Egide Gatari, the subsidy programme manager at RAB, says technicians, field staff, district & sector agronomists and farmer promoters countrywide have been trained on the use of the new system. The ‘Self-registration and Validation’ Campaign is currently running from the 1st up to 30th March 2018 countrywide while the official use of the system will kick off effective the 1st July 2018. Farmers can now register on Smart Nkunganire System by dialing *774# and follow instructions. Web users can also register or get more information by visiting https://www.smartnkunganire.rw/

The new system will significantly increase efficiency, productivity, transparency and bridges communication gaps within the Agro-Input subsidy program. SNS will also help remarkably raise financial inclusion, cashless transactions and green economy in the agriculture sector.

Source: Republic of Rwanda Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI)