iCow

Target SDGs

Target Users (Target Impact Group)

Household, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises

Distributors / Implementing Organizations

iCow is a product developed by Green Dreams and distributed in a partnership with Safaricom, Kenya’s largest mobile telecom provider.

Competitive Landscape

Direct competitors include VetAfrica, M-Farm, and Esoko.

Countries

Kenya

Manufacturing/Building Method

N/A

Intellectural Property Type

Select Type

User Provision Model

Active mobile service of voice and SMS. For subscription dial *285# and follow the simple menu of the USSD service.

Distributions to Date Status

iCow has a database of 600,000 farmers and over 60,000 active iCow users in all 47 counties in Kenya.

Design Specifications

iCow will track each cow individually and allow the farmers to maintain all relevant information specific to each cow. It will give the farmer access to:

- - A comprehensive Gestation Calendar customized to each heifer and cow based on the Date of Service
- - A calf calendar to ensure calves are reared following best practices and are thus able to reach optimum genetic potential
- - A customizable Immunization Calendar
- - Health Information Services
- - Diet Information Services
- - Nutrition Information Services
- - Illness and Disease Information Services
- - Calf Records

iCow will be accessed by farmers all through their mobile phones or the internet.
To Register on iCow Simply Dial *285# and follow menu.

Product Schematics

Technical Support

iCow has set up a customer care center that registered users can call to provide feedback and receive live advice in several languages.

Replacement Components

N/A

Lifecycle

Versioning cycle unknown.

Manufacturer Specified Performance Parameters

- iCow impact study (2012)
- - 82% of farmers who joined seven months earlier are still on the platform;
- - All claimed they have benefitted from being on iCow;
- - 42% farmers report increased incomes;
- - 56% of those with increased incomes are due to increased milk yield ranging from 1.5 to 3 litres per lactating animal;
- - Other benefits include: Reduced spending on commercial feed due to knowledge on homemade production; Increased markets and incomes for livestock and livestock by products; Increased customers reported by AI providers; Reduction of animal illness and mortality due to efficient access to relevant experts; Storage of feed in preparation for drought and dry conditions; Planting of forage thus planning before purchasing a dairy cow; Healthier livestock, including calves.

Vetted Performance Status

None.

Safety

N/A

Complementary Technical Systems

None.

Academic Research and References

Compliance with regulations

N/A

Evaluation methods

Field trials and customers’ reviews. Case studies of iCow are available on their blog.

Other Information

iCow won Apps4Africa in 2011, the Vision 2030 Award for agriculture in 2013 and runner up for the Africa Innovation Prize in 2013.

Expert advisors have expressed concerns regarding iCow model, which could not be sustainable in the long term. An eventual evolution/update project could be too hard and long.