Price Monitoring and Analysis System
App providing agricultural product and input prices
Description
The Price Monitoring and Analysis System is a web-based/mobile application that provides the user with access to prices of agricultural products and inputs in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Retail prices are collected weekly by agents in 15 cities and districts in Tajikistan from the markets in Dushanbe, Hisor, Isfara, Ishkoshim, Jayhun, Khorugh, Khujand, Kulyab, Kurgantube, Kushoniyon, Murghob, Panjakent, Qubodiyon, Bokhtar, Gissar, Jayhun, Istaravshan, Khorog and Rasht. The prices of input supplies, on the other hand, are calculated for each month based on information provided by input suppliers, i.e. agro-shops. The portal also features a list of companies from where customers can purchase the inputs. The system contains a database of over 100 items with their current prices, including food commodities, agricultural products, inputs and non-food items (such as fuel, unskilled and skilled wage labour rates, etc.). In Kyrgyzstan, price data is available for 60 agricultural products in five cities, as provided monthly by the National Statistics Committee. The prices are also published in the monthly AgroInfrom.Tj newspaper, and can be communicated via SMS by signing up for another Neksigol product – SMS agroline. The tool was launched in 2010 by the Neksigol Group with the technical guidance of UNDP as part of the “Aid for Trade” project, and with HELVETAS under the “Local Market Development” project. Neksigol assumed full control of the project in 2016. Price Monitoring and Analysis System is part of the Agro Space website developed jointly by the AgroInformAsia company in Kyrgyzstan and AgroInform.TJ in Tajikistan as a hub for the hosting of various digital products developed for farmers.
Technology
Field enumerators collect data through tablets using the installed electronic questionnaire based on the Kobo app. To ensure the accuracy of the prices, the field enumerators survey each row of the market and record the average price of the products offered by multiple traders. The Price Monitoring and Analysis System can be accessed online in Russian, Kyrgyz, Tajik and English. The system offers analysis and reporting features that allow users to browse single price series quickly, to compare product prices, markets and time series, and to download charts, data and basic statistics such as averages, percentage changes, etc., in the Excel file format. Other applications can be linked to the system via API for the sharing of price data. A mobile app is available from the Google Play Store.
Target
The Price Monitoring and Analysis System has been designed for anyone involved in agriculture, including farmers, government bodies, consumers and private companies. Governmental agencies, international organizations, academia, etc. can use the presented price reports to support advanced analytics, policymaking and reporting. For example, the Cash-flow Linked Agriculture Risk Assessment tool (CLARA) makes use of the price data for agricultural products and input supplies from the system for its predictive credit scoring calculations. Using the Price Monitoring and Analysis System requires only basic computer skills. The app is multilingual, being available in Russian, Kyrgyz, Tajik and English, and has been downloaded from the Google Play Store over 5000 times. It is used by 3000 users per year.
Business model
The mobile app is free to download, and the Agro Space web app is open to users without limitations. The web-based app makes use of two types of in-app advertising: Google Ads, and an embedded module for the display of advertisements. Posting an advertisement costs USD 5/month or 25 USD/year (correct as of December 2022). Access to price data through API connection is provided based on a subscription model, with a cost based on the number of selected products, regions, frequency of access, etc., with an increasing discount depending on the subscription duration, with quarterly, yearly or 3-yearly options available.
Impact
The Price Monitoring and Analysis System can benefit a wide range of stakeholders, including private companies, governmental agencies, international organizations, academia and the media, allowing them to assess the effects of price changes and plan their business activities accordingly, to understand changes in consumer preferences and to identify ways of attracting customers through optimal pricing strategies.
Partners
United Nations Development Program; HELVETAS
Four Betters
Better production
