Agri Business Network and FutureFarm this week announced the launch of AgRetail, a digital buying group for South African farmers, on the FutureFarm platform.
AgRetail’s mission is to tackle the challenge of high input costs for local farmers by leveraging the transparency and convenience of online marketplaces.
Through the FutureFarm web and mobile app, AgRetail members can compare prices and purchase essential agricultural inputs like fertiliser, crop protection products, and diesel fuel, all at the click of a button.
“The high cost and volatility of agricultural inputs threaten farm businesses,” said Gerhard Kriel, chief executive of Agri Business Network.
“Traditional co-ops, with their expensive retail models, are struggling to keep prices down. FutureFarm’s platform provides us with a cost-effective way to operate and the tools to negotiate lower prices for our members.”
Discounts for farmers
A key feature of AgRetail is its “collective deals” functionality. This allows farmers to combine their demand for seasonal commodities to negotiate group discounts with suppliers. In the United Kingdom, this model has already delivered savings of between 5% and 10% on fertilisers and agricultural chemicals, which are then passed directly to farmers.
“We are excited to bring our platform to South Africa and help farmers here benefit from its advantages,” said Florian Ritzmann, chief executive of FutureFarm. “The launch of AgRetail marks our first venture outside the UK, and we look forward to many more international partnerships in the future.”
A limited number of free memberships are available to farmers during AgRetail’s launch phase. Interested farmers can register online at www.agretail.co.za.
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