DIGITAL FOOD SYSTEMS EVIDENCE CLEARING HOUSE 

Implemented in:

Bangladesh

Primary users:

Food system component(s):

Food system activity/ies:

Type(s) of digital intervention:

More information
http://geopotato.com/

GEOPOTATO is a subscription-based geodata-driven decision support service to provide early alert for spraying preventive fungicide via SMS & Voicemail 3 days prior late blight infection to potato farmers. 

Description

GEOPOTATO, an early warning system, automatically computes weather data (humidity, temperature etc.) coming from Automatic Weather Stations and uses satellite image processing data to measure potato crop biomass growth. Then it determines whether the existing weather parameters are conducive for late blight attack. If the conditions are favorable to cause late blight, preventive advice is sent 3 days in advance via SMS and voice messages to subscribed farmers.

Estimated number of active users:

  • At inception: 120
  • At time of last report: 41812

Evidence of impact

GEOPOTATO service provides precise fungicide spray advice that reduces both economic and environmental consequence of fungicide use. Furthermore, due to the high precision of our solution, we provide spray advice only when compulsory, greatly reducing the frequency. Wageningen University & Research described in ‘Geopotato Evaluation Report 2018-19’ that GEOPOTATO farmers have able to increase average yield increase is 15% in last season. They also Average financial benefit for individual farmer is 200 Euros for GEOPOTATO service receiving farmers in comparison to Non- GEOPOTATO farmers. Precision Agriculture for Development ran a Randomized Control Trial and reported in ‘GeoPotato Final Report’ that farmers who received branded alert were 18% more likely to purchase product of that brand.

➥ Economic impact: 

Increased yield, Reduced production cost

➥ Environmental impact: 

Increased efficiency in agro chemical use, Increased resilience to climate shocks , Increased access to agricultural information services in real time

➥ Social impact: 

Increased women participation, Increased youth participation, Enhanced social inclusion

➥ Technical impact: 

Increased technology adoption, Improved information dissemination, Reduced the need for agricultural extension agents

➥ Impact on overall efficiency

Increased efficiency by 0-25%