Accurate Weather Predictions For Better Planning
An entrepreneurial 29-year-old farmer, Gideon Kiprotich, hails from Litein in Kericho County. After completing university, he was inspired by a friend who challenged him to take up the farming profession. Today, Gideon specialises in seedling preparation for other farmers and runs a demonstration farm where he grows a variety of crops including cabbages, kales, cereals, tomatoes, potatoes, and greens.
His farm – divided into the nursery section and demonstration area – was passed down to him by his parents who used to do farming on their own, growing mainly passion fruits and vegetables. When he took over, he converted the farm to grow horticulture crops instead. Through his demo farm, he offers training to farmers, helping them understand how to effectively use the products they purchase from him.
Before learning about Yara products, Gideon faced challenges with access to quality fertilisers and soil health. Growing up, he was accustomed to using traditional fertilisers when planting maize as it was standard practice. Hence, he relied heavily on those fertilisers but this led to soil acidification and decreased production. His crops’ general health and yield were severely impacted by the variations in soil pH levels, which also had an adverse effect on nutrient absorption. This became a major pain-point for him.
Gideon’s farming journey took a positive turn when a fellow farmer introduced him to Yara products. The transition from traditional fertilisers to Yara fertilisers was seamless and soon led to noticeable improvements in the demo farm. Access to a wide range of Yara products allowed him to improve his farm’s soil health, resulting in higher quality crops and better yields. Since the switch to Yara fertilisers, his cabbages have become well-formed, and the taste of his vegetables also improved.
It was through Yara representatives that Gideon first got to know about Yara FarmCare. While he primarily uses the app for its weather update feature, this functionality alone has been invaluable to him. Utilising the app’s precise weather predictions, Gideon can more effectively plan his planting and harvesting schedules, ensuring timely operations and lowering the risk of crop losses from unforeseen weather changes.
Key benefits of Yara FarmCare app according to Gideon:
1. Accurate weather forecasts: With reliable weather updates, the app allows Gideon to plan his farming activities with more confidence. Knowing when it will rain helps him to decide the best times to plant to leverage the rainfall, and to harvest by avoiding unexpected rains. The latter is especially critical for crops that need to be dried properly, like beans, and reduces the risk of harvest losses.
2. Field measurement: Although Gideon does not need to use all the features in the app due to his savviness, he recognises the value of other features like Map My Farm. He encourages farmers to use it to measure their field which can then help them plan and manage resources more efficiently.
3. Connecting with customers: Through Yara FarmCare, he was able to gain a loyal customer who connected with him via the Yara FarmCare Shop feature. This feature has helped him gain some orders and facilitated communication with customers.
“I would encourage other farmers to use the app, especially for its weather updates and land mapping features. These tools can help farmers plan better by knowing the size of their fields and anticipating weather conditions.”
In addition to farming, Gideon also sells Yara products and hosts a Yara Knowledge Centre where farmers come to learn the best farming practices. [KY3] [TM4] [KY5] He utilises both the Yara FarmCare and the retailer-focused YaraConnect apps. Through YaraConnect, he manages an online shop and updates his inventory, allowing farmers to browse and order fertilisers from him on Yara FarmCare. This dual role enables him to support farmers by offering quality fertilisers and sharing his knowledge.
Gideon believes in the power of knowledge and training. He hopes that Yara could further support farmers by increasing outreach and education efforts to empower them with the knowledge and skills they need to make informed decisions. On his part, he wants to raise awareness and educate farmers on the benefits and best practices of utilising Yara FarmCare and Yara products.
The experience of Gideon highlights the transformative impact of the Yara FarmCare app and Yara products on farmers' livelihoods. By providing accurate and reliable weather updates, high quality fertilisers and essential resources, Yara empowers farmers and business owners like him to achieve better yields, improve crop quality, grow their businesses, and more importantly, advance economically and socially. More than just a tool, Yara FarmCare is a partner in Gideon’s journey towards achieving agricultural success.
"Using the FarmCare app has helped me achieve timely planting and harvesting. Knowing the weather forecast allows me to plan better and avoid harvest losses during the rains. It has made a significant difference in my farming operations.”
Keen to try out Yara FarmCare? Download the app from the Google Play Store or App Store today! If you need assistance, please contact us for more information: 0711 082 431 or 0730 731 099.
