Amidst a Pandemic
The well served french fries. The balanced meal served by the chef of the house. The kibandaski (small food shack) well prepared favorite meal especially in cash strained times.
Let me take you back on how all these meals got served especially during these uncertain times. The now called #newnormal. That depended on an open-air market that a vendor goes to every single morning to ensure he/she gets the freshest produce of the day. However, we are in the middle of a pandemic. Yes, it's a risk taken by her to serve you and get her daily bread. Not to say that there are over 400,000 reported cases of Coronavirus on a weekly basis in Africa.
Negotiations happen and boom food secured and she has to get back to the shop. Bus transport expenses doubled due to capacity reduction in public transport so she has to pay more than the normal amount. She follows the right precautions because she doesn't want her customers to get sick. So she hustles about every day to get this all done for her esteemed customers.
However, the rise of agri-tech companies that are serving small enterprises like this ensures these businesses are making small wins. Also, the farmers end up earning more. Just like the ants work it takes teamwork and collaboration to ensure this works seamlessly.
During this pandemic, we got a first-hand understanding of how collaboration within this sector is important. From the rural farmer in Kenya to the small Kibandski selling your favorite meal.
Before people were paying premiums because the food supply chain has been elongated to serve the biggest buyers who exist in the open-air market. They proudly have their own resources but the cost is still high. They sometimes have to pay up to 50% of the cost in the first-mile for food to get to the market.
With the growing collaboration now in the industry. If you find the right fit and have good timing the first-mile expense can be reduced to at least 30% of the initial cost. This is how effective reliance on data and information can save up resources.
When the food gets to the open-air market this is another dance. It takes time to grasp and follow how this sequence works. For a loaded lorry to enter the market space there are up to 4 types of expenses it incurs. The worst of all is if they are not able to sell all the produce that day then food quality drops and more expenses are incurred.
So our retailers, home chefs, and our legend kibandaski people end up spending more. Therefore the need for more collaboration with companies like Farmula and similar companies existing in the market. Using data, information and calculated moves are making it easier for our farmers to improve their earning by a 15% margin. Our retailers now spend less and get more and product ordering is easy and accessible.
So the next time you enjoy your hot served meal. The good story of how it was sourced will add to its satisfaction especially in these uncertain times.
Cheers let's keep feeding the nation. Keep safe and healthy Covid19 is real.#StaySafe #UseFarmula #SaveMore
