KIVU GREEN: A green startup linking technology to agriculture. Climate Change Africa Opportunities (CCAO) congratulates and encourages Chris Ayale, this young Congolese green entrepreneur like other young people supported for the sustainable development of Africa.

publié le 24-02-2021

Based in Goma in the province of North Kivu, the young computer scientist Chris Ayale dreams of the agricultural revolution. Moreover, several months ago, he launched the Kivu green website and mobile application to achieve this. This product from Kivu green corporation helps farmers to market their products and buyers to obtain them without having to travel. It's not without its challenges, but Chris Ayale says he's hanging on and plans to do more.

 According to this young engineer, the goal is to provide digital solutions for the improvement of agriculture. In just a few months, his product has reached twenty users in the territories of Masisi and Nyiragongo but also in the cities of Goma and Bukavu, he says. He adds that the services are not just limited to selling and buying online, because in addition to that, Kivu green assists and provides information to farmers on market behavior on their mobile phones.

The application works with or without the Internet

Through Kivu green, farmers exhibit their products on the platform by displaying the different prices. As for the buyer who uses the Kivu green website or mobile application, several options are displayed, including those showing the agricultural products available and the different means of payment.

According to engineer Chris Ayale, this menu allows the buyer to view the offer and place an order from where they live. Once the order has been placed, the Kivu green team contacts the carrier for delivery. However, taking into account that the rural region in which the farmers live has very little Internet coverage, Kivu green has planned operations that do not require an Internet connection. "It works with or without Internet, like the mobile money system thanks to our USSD syntax. There is a code that you type that gives you a list of options. Everything is done by clicking on the appropriate option, ”he explains. Initially, Kivu green is working with producers in the tomato and potato sector, while waiting to expand activities to other sectors.

Other innovations in sight

For Chris Ayale, it is not easy to get the population to adapt to the Kivu green product which is an innovation. It thus intends to increase the awareness of a large number of potential users. "We thought about setting up a team of marketers, young people who will be trained on the use of Kivu green and they are the ones who will assist other users. This is one way to create jobs for young people who spend a lot of time online. [They are given] the chance to win this time around. If you help someone buy, you earn some commission, ”he says.

Climate Change Africa Opportunities (CCAO) congratulates and encourages this young Congolese green entrepreneur like other young people supported for the sustainable development of Africa.