Rwanda’s dairy farmers to benefit from Gumaho milk app

Dairy cooperatives in Rwanda are set to reap great benefits, from their dairy products thanks to a Milk Collection and Distribution System which is both web and mobile based.

Known as Gumaho milk app, it is set empower dairy cooperatives with data that provides them with support and inputs they need to grow their milk productions.

“We have been able to expand the market of cooperatives by linking them with people who buy milk in huge quantities,” says Walter Rwamucyo, COO, Gumaho Ltd.

He also revealed that they plan to make the app an information sharing platform and a data center for the whole dairy industry in Rwanda.

According to The New Times Rwanda, Gumaho started its operations in September last year, and is currently working with one cooperative which has more than 2000 farmers.

“Our app has really been of help to farmers. With it, all the data they need is in their hands, they can dedicate more time to their farming activities,” says Rwamucyo.

Banks have also started showing interest due to the rich data collected and this can enable them give out cow loans to these farmers which was impossible before.

Gumaho has also embedded an accounting software that makes it easy for these cooperatives to monitor their businesses and generate reports with mobile bulk payment so as to ease payment for farmers via mobile payment platforms.

Much as there are still some challenges, Gumaho has helped farmers track their whole distribution chain, document information and make a proper market accessibility and analysis for the cooperative.

“Access to different services by farmers was tricky but now using their feature phones through SMS, they can order and get feeds, book a vet, check their balance and very soon they will even be able to ask an advance on their payment,” says Rwamucyo.

Gumaho Ltd came into existence after the Ministry of Agriculture laid out its challenges seeking ICT solutions and Gumaho picked interest in the dairy sector because it was in line with their vision and expertise.

Currently the company has a five-year plan with the first three years focusing on the national dairy market before expanding to other agriculture sectors and foreign markets.

Gumaho comprises three youths and incubated in kLab, an open innovation tech-space in Kigali.