01 / THE BLUEPRINT
The problem to investigate
Farmers can bring highly perishable produce to market without reliable information about the quantities local buyers need, causing wasted trips or rushed sales.
02 / THE BLUEPRINT
A possible solution
Maintain a weekly board where verified buyers state requested product, quality grade, quantity range, pickup location and expected price basis. Sellers choose whether to make a non-binding inquiry or enter a properly documented agreement.
03 / THE BLUEPRINT
Start without an app
A market master can telephone known traders and post anonymised buying needs on a chalkboard twice each week.
04 / THE BLUEPRINT
Technology that could help
A USSD, SMS or offline-first form can collect structured demand and produce a printable sheet; avoid automatic price-setting or pretending a buyer inquiry is a purchase order.
05 / THE BLUEPRINT
Your first experiment
- Interview five growers and three buyers about recurring mismatches.
- Define common grades and units with local market staff.
- Publish one week of voluntary needs on paper.
- Track how many leads became actually completed trades and why others failed.
06 / THE BLUEPRINT
People, resources and cost drivers
Needs a neutral coordinator, units/grade definitions, translation and a way to confirm buyer identities. The FAO agritech mapping offers context: https://agritechobservatory.review.fao.org/en/mapping-affordable-and-transferrable-climate-smart-technologies-for-smallholder-farmers
07 / THE BLUEPRINT
What to validate — and when to stop
Verify pickup arrangements and actual accepted quality before scaling. Abandon automated matches if buyers frequently cancel or suppliers feel coerced.
08 / HYPOTHESIS TO TEST
Potential impact and how to measure it
Measure trade completion, post-harvest rejection, net farmer income and travel costs. Do not claim reduced food waste from signups alone.
09 / THE BLUEPRINT
Risks and safeguards
Price manipulation, supplier favoritism, food safety, buyer default and false scarcity can harm sellers. Keep prices independently negotiated and display uncertainty.
10 / THE BLUEPRINT
Who might pay or maintain it
Member associations or buyers may pay a transparent coordination fee; governance must prevent one big buyer controlling the board or suppressing competition.