1 Own Digital Solutions for AgricultureAPIE-paymentWeb app
e-Agri-Library – electronic agricultural library
The electronic agricultural library provides access to educational, analytical, informational and other materials. Currently, the library accumulated more than 600 electronic materials, related to agricultural, rural and economic development in Central Asia, with the ability to add free / paid materials, search and download.
| Type | Digital Solution |
| Organization | Neksigol Group (Neksigol Navovar is responsible for software development and Neksigol Mushovir is for technical backstopping on the agronomic part) and AgroInformAsia LTD |
| Organization Type | Consortium of partners |
| Country / Territory | Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan |
| Location | Khujand, Bishkek |
| Implemented in | Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Russian Federation |
| Link | https://kitob.agroinform.asia |
| Use case | Capacity development and empowerment; Agricultural extension and advisory services |
| Domain | Plant health and production; Livestock, animal health and production; Beekeeping; Nutrition; Food processing; Soil management; Land use and restoration; Water management; Forest management; Energy; Climate change |
| Description | The electronic agricultural library provides access to educational, analytical, informational and other materials. Currently, the library accumulated more than 600 electronic materials, related to agricultural, rural and economic development in Central Asia, with the ability to add free / paid materials, search and download. |
| Since | 2019 |
| Maturity | Market adoption (Validation) |
| In partnership | No |
| Technology | Digital (online) platforms (forums, communities, portals); API |
| Technology description |
e-Agri-Library is an online-based open knowledge platform. It can be accessed by anyone through computers, tablets and smartphones. The following functions are implemented in the web-platform: - Adding free / paid materials after a simple registration - Searching for materials by keyword and categories - Downloading free / paid materials - Online payments for the paid materials through the national bank card Korti Milli, VISA and e-wallets. The platform connects with financial institutions' payment gateways through API connection for making available online payments. |
| Users | Smallholder farms; Medium-size farms; Large-size farms; Private sector; Civil society organizations (NGOs, local action groups); Research institutions or academic organizations; Public sector |
| Users’ description | Because the e-library contains materials for different thematic areas, the users of the library platform are different stakeholders of agriculture sector. |
| Business model | Open source; Fully free; Advertising; One time purchase |
| Business model description |
The web-based platform is open sources and most materials are available for free. The costs for the paid materials are set by owners, who upload the materials to the e-library. The e-library gets 5% commission from each download of the paid materials. Also, two types of in-app advertising are implemented in the web-based platform that is Google Ads and its own module for displaying ads about seeds, crop protection products, fertilizers etc. from specific advertisers. The costs are 10$/monthly or 50$/yearly. |
| Challenges | There are very limited materials in the Tajik language in the e-library; therefore, its target audience is limited with users speaking the Russian and English languages. |
| Food Value Chain stage | Production; Post-harvest handling and aggregation; Processing; Distribution (wholesale and retail) |
| Impact |
The materials added to the e-library (e.g., on food safety, technologies, regulations, best farming techniques as well as market analytics from the industry) can contribute to better farming practices, sustainable business development, etc. Materials generated by the projects can remain in the e-library beyond the lifetime of the project and be updated regularly with new industry best practices and information. More than 360 000 downloads of the materials by the users. |
| SDGs | SDG 4: Quality education; SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth; SDG 9: Industry, innovation, and infrastructure |