Hrvst by Aiponics is a digital marketplace for high-quality farm produce.

Aiponics, a Zambian Agritech startup, has announced the launch of Hrvst, a digital marketplace to provide customers and restaurants with easier access to local farm produce.

Aiponics’ vision for Hrvst is to connect farmers and consumers in Africa, making it easy for them to obtain fresh farm produce without the use of a middleman.

“With many parts of Africa facing a food crisis and the inherent risk of relying on other nations for food security, there has never been a better time to bring innovation and technology into a space that sorely needs it,” says Christopher Chileshe, founder of Aiponics. We’re working to build hyper-local food security capacity while improving the quality and diversity of food available to everyone on the continent.”

Restaurants and food processors frequently complain about not receiving fresh farm produce from wholesalers, having a limited selection, and a seemingly rigorous purchase process for select produce.

This is largely due to the supply chain involved in transporting farm produce to storage facilities before it reaches stores. This process can take weeks, by which time the product is no longer fresh and may require preservatives to maintain its integrity, lowering the nutrient quality. Hrvst shortens the farm-to-table distance, ensuring that food processors and consumers can get high-quality products quickly.

Farmers benefit greatly from direct-response marketing because it generates much-needed revenue to keep their farms running.

The Hrvst app will connect farmers and their products with local customers. Customers can order fresh produce and have it delivered to their door by vendors. This way, farmers and food processors are both happy.

Direct delivery from the farmer to the customer is not only faster but also less expensive than the latter, which involves a middleman. When compared to the cost of a middleman, vendors offer a lower cost price for their produce. This is good news, especially for low-income restaurants and households, because it means they won’t have to spend as much money to get the products they need.

Customers are charged a small membership fee, but vendors are free.

Furthermore, the user-friendly dashboard includes some additional features that improve the user experience, such as the Vendor App, which is used to assist vendors in managing their digitally displayed produce. On this page, you can also give away discounts and promo codes; the Customer App, which allows customers to order their required delivery from a wide variety of farm produce and also perform cashless transactions with mobile money and credit card payments; and a Drivers’ App to improve delivery options.

Along with its vision of food security for Africa, Aiponics is working on another innovative project called Aquaponics. Aquaponics is a hybrid of the agricultural practices of aquaculture and hydroponics.

Aquaponics is a simple, promising, and long-term food production technology, particularly in developing countries and arid zones where resources are scarce, fresh water is scarce, and populations are growing. This franchise aims to empower more young, local farmers in Africa, particularly Zambia, by increasing their capacity and manpower.

Curtis Madden has joined the Aiponics team as Chief Executive Officer to help realize this vision.

“I couldn’t be more excited to join a mission-driven team with such an ambitious vision,” Madden said. We’re reshaping an entire ecosystem by vertically aligning the entire supply chain and injecting technology along the way to create social good that will last long after we’re gone.”

The official launching for the Hrvst digital app is on July 9th in Lusaka, Zambia.

For more information on how to attend go here.