ICT and AG Profile: Dunavant

Supported by USAID’s Fostering Agriculture Competitiveness Employing Information Communication Technologies (FACET) project under the FIELD-Support LWA, this profile discusses Dunavant, the largest cotton company in Zambia, which is pilot testing the use of e-vouchers that are redeemable for cash, merchandise, and other services including school fees. During the redemption process, retailers confirm the farmer’s identification and are immediately credited with the redeemed e-voucher’s value. Using e-vouchers improves Dunavant’s ability to track, monitor, and administer payments to a large network of suppliers. The system has facilitated the ease of doing business by expanding farmer payment options at participating retailers. This reduces the risk generally associated with cash transactions to both farmers and retailers.

The FACET project aims to help USAID missions and their implementing partners in sub-Saharan Africa use information and communications technology in sustainable and scalable approaches to improve the impact of their agriculture related development projects.