(Business in Cameroon) - Agrix Tech, an app that detects plant diseases and finds a solution for them, has just been awarded the special presidential prize. This prize, awarding the best digital innovation this year, was handed out after a national competition during the digital innovation week organized by the ministry of posts and telecommunications on June 24-28, 2019.

“Our project is the most innovative because it is about the small farmer who is ignored by everyone most of the time. You just have to take a picture of the affected plant with the app and it will detect the disease affecting your plant as well as the appropriate treatment or inputs to use to boost your crops. One of the app’s advantages is that it can be used without an internet connection. The diagnostics are given in many local languages to help our farmers who do not speak French or English. They just have to select a language,” explains Dorothée Mvondo Nganti, co-sponsor of Agix Tech.

“I am delighted and comforted because the head of state was not wrong by saying that digital economy is the big challenge of the century. Youg people are the ones to take up the challenge (…) With the theme ; create, innovate and dare, the youth showed that they have understood the goals of this competition. The quality of the projects and the number of participants indicates that the message was received and that the best is yet to come,” said Minette Libom Li Likeng, Cameroon’s minister of posts and telecommunications.

The whole value of the award is XAF15 million. It comprises of XAF6 million cash, a laptop, free internet connection for three months,and incubation in the innovation hub of Swedish equipment supplier Ericsson in Dubaï. It also entitles the winner to meetings and experience sharing with Dubai-based startups.  

BRM