Econet launches farmers’ club

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ECONET Wireless Zimbabwe (Econet) has launched a digital service for farmers that offers agricultural commodity prices, farming tips, weather updates and a mobile trading platform linking farmers to buyers.
Douglas Mboweni , the group’s chief executive, yesterday said the new product, dubbed EcoFarmer Club, demonstrated the company’s quest to offer relevant products and services in an agro-based economy.
“… this service will serve millions of farmers and consumers of farming services throughout our country,” he said.
The company has led the digital and fintech revolution that has transformed the way Zimbabweans from all walks of life transact and do business through its integrated EcoCash mobile money platform.

Mboweni said the EcoFarmer Club would come with a transactional personalised card, which entitles farmers to discounts on vital farming inputs and implements from approved suppliers.
The card is linked to a bank account and can transact on ZimSwitch. Farmers will also be able to link their bank account with their EcoCash wallet, thus enabling bank to wallet transactions, and vice versa.
Mboweni said his company’s aim was to create shared value by providing a platform to connect millions of farmers directly with buyers, as well as offering them the convenience to check prices at municipal markets throughout the country, along with the ability to check current weather updates in their registered farming locations.
“Besides having a virtual ‘exchange’ where farmers directly connect to buyers of their produce, EcoFarmer Club members will be able to purchase farming inputs at a much lower cost and great convenience,” he said.
Spaeaking at the same event, Econet chief operating officer Fayaz King paid tribute to the several organisations that had partnered Econet to deliver EcoFarmer Club to the farming community.
He added that EcoFarmer Club members would have the convenience of accessing farming inputs at selected outlets throughout the country.
“EcoFarmer Club members will be able to access seed, fertiliser, agrochemicals, stockfeeds, animal health products, farming implements and inputs from selected agro-businesses such as seed companies, fertiliser companies, poultry suppliers, as well as crop and livestock outlets at special, discounted prices,” King said.
He said approved outlets included Windmill, Agricura, Tanaka Power, Agriseeds, Farm Shop, National Tested Seeds, Graniteside Hardware, Seedridge and Arda Seeds.
The EcoFarmer Club card also gives farmers access to special farming events, over and above access to exclusive products, such as an exclusive Steward Health Farmers package, King said.
He said the EcoFarmer service, which was originally introduced to the market in 2013, already boasted over one million registered customers on its platform.
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