Description
Agro Space website was developed jointly by AgroInformAsia, Kyrgyzstan and AgroInform.TJ in Tajikistan as a hub for the hosting of various digital products developed for farmers. Among the accessible products are several applications providing information on crop production, cattle breeding, beekeeping, pest and disease management; solutions providing access to virtual marketplaces and retail market prices in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan; and other tools that are accessible both online and offline. The website also hosts a library containing more than 600 online materials, an agricultural map, a news portal, agro-calculators and other products. There is also a link to a YouTube channel where users can access educational and informational videos. The AgroSpace website is supported by a Telegram Bot that provides guides to the operation of the digital tools and that allows access to some of the services provided by the bot itself (e.g. weather forecasts, market prices, etc.) or redirects users to other websites. The website Agro Space won second prize in the International “Eurasian Digital websites 2019” competition organized by the Eurasian Economic Commission.
Technology
The website hosts all the digital products aside from the mobile applications, which can be downloaded from the Google Play Store.
Target
The website can bring benefits to anyone involved in agriculture, including government, scientific and consulting organizations, and enterprises engaged in agricultural and rural development. The main users of the website and digital products are farmers, and the tools require only basic computer or mobile phone skills. The website and the apps are multilingual, available in all or some of the following languages: Russian, Kyrgyz, Tajik and English. According to the developers, by November 2020, 1 million users from more than 40 countries had made use of the website and tools. The apps have been downloaded over 170 000 times, and 15 percent of those who use that app are active users. The electronic trade website attracts 3000 users per month, 500 specialists access the electronic map monthly, and around 3000 people a year use the calculators.
Business model
Most of the tools are available for free. The web-based website features two types of in-app advertising: Google Ads, and an embedded module for the posting of advertisements. Posting an ad costs USD 5/month or 25 USD/year (as of December 2022).
Impact
The website hosts various tools and knowledge products that can be accessed free of charge by farmers and other interested parties. Agro Space allows users to purchase and sell agricultural products and inputs, to monitor retail market prices, to publish and download free educational materials, and to effectively manage crops and livestock with the help of knowledge materials, maps and calculators. Neksigol also maintains a network of village advisors that can provide help to farmers with low digital skills in the use of the digital tools.
Four Betters
Better production
Better environment
Better life
