Botswana-based technology startup Plaas has revealed its plan to use blockchain technology to help create a more efficient farming industry in Africa.

Plaas is creating a platform powered by blockchain technology and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) for individual farmers and farming cooperatives to share information about their farming operations and practices.

For many farmers in Africa and other developing nations, finding an easily accessible yet secure data storage mechanism is a major challenge. Many farmers are forced to use mental accounting when it comes to keeping records of their farming practices. Others will use paper records but, unfortunately, these are easily destroyed, lost or are otherwise unreliable.

To address this issue, Plaas is harnessing the blockchain to provide a secure and reliable data storage mechanism. Farmers will need to key in the characteristics of their crops and animals but after the initial data input process, the daily record keeping is easy and simple.

In addition to increasing ease of use for the farmers, the Plaas platform can be used in coordination with government-certified personnel. For instance, officers who certify the ancestry, breed, health and other husbandry practices related to livestock are able to access the platform and add their information or certifications to the stock of the farmers they interact with. The same is applicable to crops.

Due to the fact that the Plaas platform is powered by blockchain technology, the information stored in it is immutable. As a result, users of such a network are able to trust that the information they are accessing is a true representation of the facts.

The use of RFID introduces greater advantages to the network for the farmers as this technology allows the platform to add data in real-time but on a wireless basis. The RFID chips are able to provide the real-time tracking of resources especially when it comes to livestock.

While the Plaas platform is designed for farmers, it also holds advantages for consumers. The platform is designed to enable users to access the data stored in it. After paying a small fee, users can view all the data related to the produce they are purchasing. In today’s food market where products are often adulterated, consumers are becoming increasingly concerned with the contents of their food. This goes beyond just what is in the product but right down to what the livestock is fed on or what pesticides are used on the farm. The Plaas platform provides consumers with this information.

The Plaas platform will also include a marketplace where buyers and farmers are able to interact directly. Purchases can be made using Plaas tokens, which are Ethereum-based ERC20 tokens.

To invest in the future of information sharing among African farmers, check out the Plaas token sale, which is scheduled for December.

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