Description
VALOKA is an online platform that connects small farmers and artisanal food makers with local buyers, serving both producers and consumers in Belarus. Valoka provides a searchable list of regional farmers with their contact details and interactive map, helping to reduce information asymmetry and strengthen peer-to-peer local food markets.
Technology
Valoka is a web-based marketplace platform accessible via standard internet browsers on desktop and mobile devices. It comprises a catalogue database, user-search tools with filters to find producers, and an interactive map to locate farms and points of sale. Producers self-register through online forms to add product listings, contact information and delivery or pickup details. The platform’s backend hosts the catalogue and mapping services.
Target
The main users of Valoka are farmers and food consumers. The website was developed to connect farmers with consumers directly. As of Jan 2026, the platform lists over 50 producers across Belarus.
Business model
The website is free to use for consumers and farmers and is operated as a non-profit project. The website is run by volunteers.
Impact
Valoka aims to improve the visibility of small-scale farmers and home producers by providing a simple digital channel to present their products and connect directly with local consumers. The platform aims to reduce information gaps in local food markets and facilitates direct producer–consumer linkages, potentially lowering transaction costs and supporting local sourcing. While publicly available data on scale and quantified impacts are limited, the solution has the potential to support market access for micro-producers, encourage local consumption, and strengthen community-based food networks.
Four Betters
Better life
