ILRI Livestock live talk seminar
Nairobi, 11 December 2012
Livestock and Mobile Technology
Su Kahumbu
su@greendreams.co.ke

Today, almost one billion people are suffering
from malnutrition and 70% of the poor in
developing countries live in rural areas. This is
largely attributed to unsustainable agricultural/
environmental practices, weak nexus between
science and policies as well as incoherent national
policies.
World Agricultural Report IAASTD

More than one in four Africans - 218 million
undernourished.

Current solutions deliver short
term increased productivity at the
expense of sustainable
ecosystems
Resulting in dependence on expensive
inputs, fertilizers, adapted and
modified seeds

Who is a farmer?

Mechanized Manual
Industrialized Small Scale
Subsidized Unsupported
Produces
80% of
Kenyas’ food

Weather
Poor soils
Poor storage
Poor prices
Poor
infrastructure
Poor
extension
Expensive risks
inputs
Instability
Insecurity
Lack of
knowledge
Climate Change

Biovision Foundation
TOF Magazine
iTof Centers
TOF Radio
Infonet platform
www.infonet-biovision.org

Knowledge
Markets
Finance

SEXY!

Kenya has 80% mobile phone penetration
In the ages 20-29 over 100% penetration
700 Million mobile phones in Africa

Agricultural information platform accessed
primarily via mobile phone

Core objectives of increasing
farmer productivity through
increased knowledge

iCow Pipe
Virtual
Vets, QA &
Technical
Farmers
Customer Care
Agri Stakeholders
TO
CK
PRO DUC ER S
’A
S
iCow Features
S
1. Kalenda
SO
I VE
C IA
KENYA L
TION
2. Vetenari
3. Mashauri
4. Soko
5. Sauti
6. Videos

Farmer Profile
1-2 acres of land
2-3 cows
20% women

Silas-Embu-June 23rd Ashford-Tharaka Nithi-June11th
+ 7lt + 4lt
Ksh 6,750 Ksh 3,600
Mashauri

Soko
Rotich Luke
Ksh 80,000
Nakuru 121 km , 1.5 hrs Baringo
Sammy Mutai
Ksh 100,000
Ksh 105,000
Kericho 76km, 1 hr Bomet

Gitau Ruchu 10 lt @ 200 bob
Thika Nairobi
8k Monthly

Vetenari
Muthoni Nyeri
Ksh 1,000,000
Dec 14th 2011 Dec 28th 2011

Dr ABC in
Sultan
Hamud
Mary Mary’s Friend
Machakos Sultan Hamud

Other gains
• Reduced calf mortality
• Feed conservation
• Fodder Production
• Reduced veterinary costs
• Healthier animals

Sauti
April 10th

Knowledgeable Farmers
42 counties 42,000

Su Kahumbu Stephanou | TED Fellow | Green Dreams TECH Ltd
www.iCow.co.ke.