Kenya’s avocado industry plays a crucial role in the country’s economy. Not only is it a popular food item among locals, but it also generates significant export revenue for the nation. Kenya is proud to be the largest avocado producer in Africa and the fourth largest globally, thanks to its favorable climate that allows for year-round production.
Despite this success, only a small portion of the avocados harvested in Kenya actually make it to the export market. One Million Avocados (OMA), a startup organization in Kenya, reports that only 23% of the avocados are suitable for export. One of the main reasons for this is that 70% of avocado production is carried out by small-scale farmers who lack access to modern agricultural technology and a unified network. Additionally, strict regulations and common agricultural challenges like pests and diseases further hinder the quality and exportability of their produce.
To address these challenges, OMA has partnered with Dimitra, a blockchain-based agricultural technology (AgTech) company, to leverage local expertise and advanced technology. Dimitra has equipped Kenyan avocado farmers with essential tools such as artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), and blockchain. The blockchain technology provided by Dimitra helps farmers comply with strict environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards, which opens up new markets and adds value to their products.
In a groundbreaking move, Dimitra has tokenized 10,000 avocado trees in Kenya as nonfungible tokens (NFTs) on the Polygon blockchain. Each Agriculture RWA NFT represents a real avocado tree and provides farmers with real-world data, including GPS location, farm score, photos, and development history. Along with the NFT, farmers also receive enterprise-grade tech solutions like soil sensors, fertilizers, satellite images, and AI-powered agronomic analysis reports.
As part of the partnership, OMA will utilize DMTR, Dimitra’s proprietary token, for transactions. The use of cryptocurrencies enables Kenyan farmers to hold and make transactions directly on the blockchain, facilitating seamless NFT purchases and revenue-sharing activities. OMA will also convert the points earned by avocado farmers into DMTR tokens, raising awareness about the efficiency and effectiveness of crypto in agriculture.
Another key aspect of the partnership is onboarding Kenyan avocado farmers to the Connected Farmer platform, a Web3 platform that democratizes access to essential technology for small-scale farmers. Connected Farmer, available on Android, iOS, and web browsers, provides farmers with direct access to Dimitra’s tech stack. Through this platform, farmers can utilize advanced machine learning and data science methods to track pest and disease problems in real-time and find effective solutions.
By demonstrating the utility of blockchain and cryptocurrencies in agriculture, projects like Dimitra encourage the adoption of these technologies and contribute to the establishment of sustainable practices and business models for small-scale farmers. Through local partnerships and the integration of AgTech, Kenya’s avocado industry can thrive and continue to make a significant impact on the country’s economy.
To learn more about Dimitra and its initiatives, visit their website.