Ideas That Solve Problems: Ethiopian’s Innovation – Weekly Series #2

Company: Lersha – Green Agro Solutions PLC   

Abrhame Endrias, an enthusiastic agripreneur, is the Founder and Managing Director of Green Agro Solutions.

Lersha, the Uber for Ethiopian Farmers, is a one stop digital platform where farmers directly or through Lersha Agents access their farming needs using technology. The platform combines a mobile application, a call center and lersha agents to facilitate transactions with farmers.

Lersha (ለእርሻ) is an Amharic equivalent to the phrase ‘for agriculture’. It represents the desire to fulfill the agricultural needs of small holder farmers through innovation.

This innovative solution so far served more than 45,000 Small holder farmers through 88 Lersha agents, 1320 development Agents, and 172 Mechanization service provider.

Lersha Services includes:

• Farm Input: Using this agricultural marketplace, farmers can place orders and purchase their products of need including delivery.
• Mechanization: Smallholder farmers will have options to hire farm machinery when needed and on the season.
• Agro-Climate Advisory & Crop Extension: Every farmer can get an advisory service on agronomic practices and technology adoption supports on time and on point.  The advisory content is provided or verified by the Ministry of Agriculture.

Agriculture is the biggest sector in Ethiopia, accounting for over a third of gross domestic product (27.5 billion dollars) and up to 80pc of all export revenues in some years. With a projected growth of 6.2% per year over the next ten years, the sector employs two-thirds of the labor force (70pc).

Website: https://www.lersha.com/team.html