Seeds
Wasix.net is a real-time trading platform for seed growers, distributors and buyers across West Africa. The first online platform to make seed quantity and location information available to smallholders, Wasix also hopes to encourage farmers to share their knowledge and experiences for increased productivity.
Pascal Awede, a seed grower from Comè, Benin, has just received an SMS on his phone which reads: “2.5 t basic rice seed, ORYLUS 6 variety, price: FCFA 540/kg ($0.82/kg), contact: +229 95077000”. The same message was sent to all seed growers registered with the Wasix platform, enabling those with sufficient stock to respond to the request.
Wasix (West African Seed Information Exchange) is the first online seed market place for sharing seed information and promoting the sale of quality seeds. “When using quality seeds, it is possible to increase productivity by 40%,” states Yacouba Diallo, an agribusiness specialist for the West and Central Africa Council for Agricultural Research and Development (CORAF/WECARD). Seed growers can upload their forecasts (based on crop declarations) and yields. Once approved, these figures are published on the platform, giving a real-time picture of available stocks. Seed distributors also have to register and update their stock information regularly. Buyers meanwhile, can access seed availability, quality and price information, as well as seed usage tips and advice. They can also submit details of their request (needs, proposed price and contact information). These details are checked and then issued via SMS and email. There is also an Android mobile app available in the Google Play Store.
The platform, managed by CORAF/WECARD in partnership with the International Fertilizer Development Center, was launched in Benin in April 2016 and will be available in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Nigeria and Senegal by the end of 2016.
