The critical role of low-tech tools in agricultural advancements
Written by Elisa Criscione and Carolina Pirola
According to a 2023 GSMA report on the State of Mobile Internet Connectivity, around 95% of the population is covered by broadband internet. Despite the extensive geographical coverage, a staggering 3 billion people do not use internet services due to lack of affordability of devices and high cost of data, as well as lack of knowledge of mobile internet, and gaps in digital skills and literacy. For example, considering local data prices and average data usage, a coffee farmer in Uganda would be investing about 11 euros per month only on the data required to check Facebook. Based on the Fairtrade living income reference price for Uganda, this would amount to about one-fifth of the 52.85 euros needed per month by each member of a household with 7 people to afford a decent standard of living*.
This creates a significant problem not only for farmers who are unable to access vital information for their businesses but also for companies seeking to support farming communities and introduce their tools to the market. So, how do we bridge the gap between uneven internet usage and the availability of information? Contrary to the notion that 'low-tech' equates to outdated, the current adoption rates, continued investment, and innovation in these tools provide clear evidence of their effectiveness in overcoming the digital divide. “The best solution is the one that fits the needs of the users,” says Daniele Tricarico, a Tech4D Analyst at GSMA and Editor of ArisTechia, a newsletter on digital agriculture in emerging markets. “If using 2G and ‘low-tech’ is what works, then that is the better solution.”
In a world where high-tech solutions often grab the spotlight, the significance of low-tech tools in agriculture stands as a testament to innovation meeting necessity. But, what are these tools, and how are they useful for coffee farmers?
A closer look at low-tech implementations
While high-tech solutions are often praised for their dynamic and customizable nature and user-friendly interfaces, solutions delivered through so-called ‘low-tech’ channels are often more easily adopted by farmers, as they are generally perceived as more accessible. In this sense, Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD), Interactive Voice Response (IVR), and Short Message Service (SMS) are not relics of the past but vital instruments that adapt to the users' environments and are still widely used in coffee-farming communities.
USSD allows for interactive, menu-based services without an internet connection, enabling transactions, information requests, and service accessibility. It is extensively used for financial transactions in connection with mobile money, which can be a crucial tool for those underserved by traditional banks. In 2018, for example, 90% of mobile money transactions were reported happening through the use of USSD. Today, Sub-Saharan Africa continues to dominate the mobile money landscape with 832 billion USD in transaction value, stemming from 45 billion transactions. In coffee, several programs have been implemented to foster digital payments in the sector in various countries, including Guatemala, Ethiopia, Uganda, Indonesia and more.
IVR systems guide users through menu options via voice commands or keypad inputs, providing information or services without direct human intervention. This information can also be shared in local languages, which makes IVR particularly fitting for areas where the most widely spoken languages are not used and literacy is low. SMS is used for straightforward, text-based communication, sending alerts, updates, or information to users across different geographical locations.
Precision Development (PxD), a non-profit that uses technology to offer a range of digital services to farmers, is one of the most recent examples of success in using IVR and SMS to provide agricultural workers with access to relevant information. In September 2023, Walmart Foundation, in collaboration with TechnoServe and PxD, released an impact study that reported that Indian coffee farmers experienced a 29% increase in revenues after implementing PxD’s user communication platform providing agricultural advisory and digital market access.
Another example would be that of Apollo Agriculture, a Kenyan agri-fintech startup that raised 10 million USD in January 2024 to expand its services across the continent. The company provides loans, insurance, and other financial services through machine learning, sensors and satellite data, while farmers interact with them through USSD and SMS.
These ongoing investments underscore the multifaceted utility of low-tech solutions beyond basic communication, facilitating a range of agricultural operations from tailored advisory services and asset management to market linkages.
Integrating AI with low-tech for future-ready agriculture
However, providing extension services to producers requires a more intensive use of human resources on the ground, whether the transmission of information happens through low-tech solutions, internet-driven tools, or a combination of both. Indeed, there is often a need to train the farmer and guarantee that the system works efficiently, leading to higher costs for tech providers and other implementers. When looking at the current advancements in technology solutions, artificial intelligence (AI) marks a new frontier. One opportunity with AI is to scale up the advisory service without the need to invest too heavily in having a physical presence. “There are other questions that are coming up with generative AI around ensuring the quality of the advisory service, but in terms of scaling up, it is a great opportunity to reduce costs,” Daniele remarks.
In November 2023, Digital Green, a development organization known for its digital extension services aiding farmers in rural regions, launched Farmer.Chat, a generative AI assistant. This innovation aims to address climate change and water scarcity by distributing training videos and targeted information to rural producers. Similarly, Viamo introduced the AI-enabled tool Ask Me Anything, successfully piloted in Zambia, with ambitions to extend its reach to the 2 billion individuals without internet, thereby democratizing access to crucial information and resources.
Merging the power of AI with low-tech platforms can help meet producers' requirements of accessibility despite broadband instability. "With AI... you innovate at the back end, but the front end can still be whatever fits best, including low-tech," Daniele states. This approach leverages both advanced and accessible technologies, crafting ecosystems of digital services that meet the varied needs of farmers globally, thus ensuring inclusivity and efficiency in agricultural advisories.
Vision for the future
As we navigate through an era where digital transformation is reshaping agriculture, low-tech tools still emerge as forefront solutions for many producers operating worldwide. Amidst the digital divide, USSD, IVR, and SMS technologies stand out not just for their ease of use, but for their profound impact in bridging the gap between advanced innovations and the need for easier access to information. With the advent of AI, the horizon expands even further, offering scalable and cost-effective solutions, and anticipating a future where digital transformation is more inclusive.
*This estimate is based on data rates shared by Kompare Uganda, and data from TechAdvisor regarding Facebook data usage.
Elisa Criscione
Elisa is the Founder and CEO of Digital Coffee Future. Her expertise lies on coffee digitalization and the assessment of integration of strategic digital tools for companies and organizations.