Ground Truth: Community Research

Objective

To understand the real challenges faced by farmers, buyers, and community stakeholders by observing their daily realities and conducting direct interviews. This ensures that the AgriDatum solution is built on verified ground-level evidence and not assumptions.

Research Activities

Community Observations

Date: 1 November 2025

Location: Local farming communities around Akwa Ibom

Observations:

1. Many farmers were working without any form of digital support. Decision-making was based mostly on past experience and weather guesswork.

2. Several farmers kept rough records in notebooks; some were torn or half-empty, and some had no records at all.

3. Market interactions showed confusion and disagreement on pricing because no one had access to daily price updates or demand data.

4. We don’t trust systems that don’t help us: When I asked about digital tools, many farmers said they’ve used apps before that disappeared or never gave them anything in return. One farmer said: “Why should I put my data where I don’t know who is using it?” This helped us understand that trust must come before technology.

Interviews Conducted

Interview 1

Date: 2 November 2025

Interviewee: Elderly farmer (approx. 60+)

Location: On his small farm near the village

Key Questions Asked:

1. What challenges do you face during planting and harvest seasons?
2. How do you currently keep farm records?
3. What would you like to improve in your farming process?

Key Responses:

1. He explained that rainfall unpredictability often ruins his planting cycle.
2. He keeps notes in an old book but said it easily gets missing or damaged.
3. He wishes he had clearer guidance on when to plant, what to expect, and how to sell his produce at a fair price.

Interview 2

Date: 11 November 2025

Interviewee: Market woman

Key Questions Asked:

1. What challenges do you face when buying from farmers?
2. How do you determine daily prices for products?
3. What changes do you think would benefit both farmers and buyers?

Key Responses:

1. She said she never knows which farmer has what product available at a given time.
2. Prices fluctuate because no one has consistent, verified information.
3. She believes a tool that connects buyers and farmers directly would remove guesswork and reduce arguments.
4. If it helps us get buyers, we will use it every day: When I asked how often they would record their harvest, a young farmer responded: “If it connects us to markets or programs, I will enter it every day.” This showed us that consistency comes naturally when people see real benefits.

Interview 3

Date: December 2025

Interviewee: NGO volunteer working with smallholder farmers

Key Questions Asked:

1. What gaps do you see in the way farmers are supported?
2. What type of data would help NGOs work better?
3. What common agricultural issues do you encounter in different communities?

Key Responses:

1. She said NGOs often operate “blind” because communities lack proper documentation.
2. They need structured farmer data: crop type, yield levels, challenges, seasonal losses.
3. She highlighted repeated problems: poor yield tracking, lack of training insights, and difficulty measuring impact.

Evidence Repository

Raw Data Summary

Problems Identified:

1. Farmers rely on guesswork due to lack of reliable data
2. No standard system for keeping or storing farm records
3. Daily market prices are unstable and unclear
4. Farmers and buyers struggle to connect directly
5. NGOs lack access to real-time community data for effective support

Community Pain Points:

1. Lack of data ownership
2. Poor yields caused by unpredictable weather and uninformed planting
3. Financial losses due to bad pricing and middleman control
4. Lack of a unified community platform to share challenges and progress

Next Steps

After gathering ground truth, proceed to Formulate Insight to identify patterns and themes.