A NEW mobile application, Kurima Mari/Ukulima Imali, has been developed to assist large-scale commercial and small-scale beef producers with information on best practices in beef production.

The intervention is a product of the Zimbabwe Agricultural Growth Programme – Beef Enterprise and

Transformation Project, which is being implemented in partnership with the Government.

Enhanced information dissemination is critical in successful value chain growth.

The application has six core components that include the beef information centre, health advisor, marketing, farmers chatroom, beef production economics and the beef calendar.

The beef information centre provides precise details on all the basic information one may need when venturing into beef production, value chain and different breeds in the market. The health advisor provides the farmer with detailed information on infectious diseases, parasitic diseases and nutritional disorders.

ICT and communications officer, Mr Ntandoyenkosi Ngwenya said the app will not only benefit farmers locally but globally as it is accessible digitally.

“We are developing these mobile apps with the drive to enhance the cascading of value chain specific information to farmers because we strongly believe that digital information comes in handy in terms of easily spreading information to intended beneficiaries,” he said.

“The app interconnects all farmers within the beef value chain locally, regionally and globally. We are also moving with the mantra ‘digital innovations for zero hunger’ as we are hoping that these innovations will promote good animal husbandry practice around the beef value chain.”

Among other elements the marketing pillar gives the farmer extensive information that ensures one gets maximum returns on beef production investment.

It covers various topics like marketing costs, marketing channels, tips when selling cattle among others.

The farmers chatroom on the other hand connects small-scale farmers and commercial beef farmers in real time in order to share ideas, business and network together.

The beef production economics gives simplified and expert insight on beef production from a financial perspective. It takes complex numbers in finance and economics and simplifies them to make everyone in the industry understand the dynamics of beef production.

The beef calendar presents a detailed account of activities the farmer needs to take note of every month of the calendar year as a beef farmer.

This complements Government efforts to use ICTs in improving production and service delivery in different facets of the economy.