Tech in Africa
Gambian Agritech startup Farm Fresh, has just achieved a milestone in the development of their new app. Founder Modou N’jie began the startup in 2014 as the first online fruit and vegetable store in the West African nation. Farm Fresh is now an online food and delivery service that partners with small scale farmers throughout the Gambia to assist in identifying markets for their produce.
The new developments mean customers can directly make a purchase on the platform without having to go through a third party, a process that was time-consuming and prone to error. The company is now working on additional payment options. In 2015, the company received a $5000 grant from the Tony Emolelu Entrepreneurship foundation. They were fortunate enough to attract a $6000 investment the following year which helped them in product packaging and marketing.
Farm Fresh links with farmers sell their products on its platform in addition to delivery services. They consider their business model as a key agricultural value chain. The company has tools tailored for Gambians in the diaspora, allowing them to log into the platform and shop fresh fruits for their families back at home.
Modou has always expressed his desire to create a positive social impact through Farm Fresh by empowering local farming communities. Through the weekly purchase of farm produce, the company generates income for the farmers. In an interview at the Make-IT Accelerator program, Modou expressed his desire to expand to Sierra Leone, once he secured the right funding.
