SMALL FARMER MICROFINANCE SOFTWARE SYSTEM By Mr Alex Weir, Harare, Zimbabwe 1 w w w . c d 3 w d . c o m / s f m s s /
Transcript
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S MALL F ARMER MICROFINANCE SOFTWARE SYSTEM By Mr Alex Weir,
Harare, Zimbabwe 1 www.cd3wd.com/sfmss/
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M AJOR F EATURES - Project written in Nairobi Kenya 2007/02
2007/03 - Programmed in postgres 8.2 using mainly EMS software
product to debug stored procedures - Programmer had lots of sql
server experience, some oracle experience, zero previous postgres -
System written under windows, to be run under linux - System would
have java front end - System composed of postgres functions running
in a loop with a sleep command, waiting for incoming sms and email
messages to appear as rows in a table 2 www.cd3wd.com/sfmss/
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System was designed to partially automate interactions between
the microfinance organisation, the agrobusiness company (Bidco of
Kenya oilseed and sunflower specialists), and a number of farmers
groups (average size 25 small farmers, with approximately 1 acre
(0.4 hectare) each) Automation was done by structured smss sent
from the leaders of these farmers groups to the system, which then
made decisions based on a heavily parameterised management module
and communicated automatically or semi-automatically to the farmers
groups, the bank, Bidco, and the stockists of agricultural inputs
(seed and fertiliser) The system allowed a very few admin personnel
(e.g. 2) to effectively deal with a large number of farmers (e.g.
20,000). The result would be a microfinance system which was
efficient and non-exploitative towards the farmers, and which would
have all kinds of useful management reporting built in. 3
www.cd3wd.com/sfmss/
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Interface with bank was the most primitive aspect Equity Bank
Kenya had electronic banking, but in 2007/03 still no facility for
bulk payment through file submission, therefore system instructed
payments to be done to web screen, accountant did manual payments
through his e-banking web screen, then produced statement, which
was copied and pasted back into the system for checking and logging
It was planned that future capability would include bulk payments
from file 4 www.cd3wd.com/sfmss/
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L ESSONS FROM THE PROJECT Project design and system design had
been scrappy/faulty, although programming capability of Kenyan
software house (www.verveko.co.ke) seemed goodwww.verveko.co.ke
Project design had been faulty from both sides the NGO which
commissioned the project and also Verveko. There are distinct
advantages from building fat server systems, especially using SQL
as the main programming language the longevity and interoperability
of SQL is high compared with client side languages It is fun to
build systems which are socially useful as well as being
technically elegant and efficient 5 www.cd3wd.com/sfmss/
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W HERE FROM HERE ? As far as I know, the project was never
completed But the system had a lot of good features and capability
A large part of the problem lies with the aid and development
community, which seems to have an aversion to running projects
which succeed The World Food Program (WFP/PAM) is currently
starting a project in 19 countries called Purchase for Progress
(P4P) P4P has a plan to include assistance with inputs (seed and
fertiliser) I am trying to get through to WFP that the system built
for prideafrica.com / drumnet.com in Kenya can be used as a basis
for a P4P Inputs System 6 www.cd3wd.com/sfmss/
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The source code and database structures (and contents of
parameter table) are to be found at
www.cd3wd.com/sfmss/www.cd3wd.com/sfmss/ I am interested in
building an online version of the system for use globally either
free or for a small charge per transaction. One hosting could
typically be used by 20 schemes in 8 countries (or 200 schemes in
80 countries). The main obstacle at the moment is the lack of
low-cost SMS Gateway services which can be used in conjunction with
such systems Possible Zain (formerly Celtel) and other MNPs
throughout Africa and the Third World could set up such low-cost or
zero-cost SMS Gateway services for non-profit and/or socially
desireable operations (the same sms gateway could also operate on a
chargeable basis for other businesses see cd3wd.com/smszim/ for
ideas and concepts) Of course if we can move to low-cost smart
phones with internet capability running off GPRS, then the sms
gateway pre-requirement would no longer exist. Such phones are now
available for in the region of US$ 80-00 (and hopefully falling),
as compared with an sms- capable mobile phone for US$ 40-00.
Another obstacle was the attitude of organisations like Equity
Bank, who seemed to think that electronic banking was something for
corporate clients and middle- and upper-middle-class customers only
not something for the common man and woman! Thanks for your
time!..... Contact me at cd3wd.com/contactus/ 7
www.cd3wd.com/sfmss/