Progress Milling brings technology to farmers

Small scale farmers in the rural areas will soon have access to modern technology when Progress Milling’s smart card system is introduced. The company’s business model provides that farmers supply maize for processing and that payment is made by holder certificates that are redeemed for processed maize.
Progress Milling Corporate Communication Director, Masenya Masenya announced on Friday that the current system will be replaced by a new high technology system that works with a smart card. “All the details and credits of the farmers that collect their processed maize will be on our system and deducted in real time as it is collected at the depots. We are doing away with the certificates and trust that the new system will avoid fraud.”
He explained that all the depots are now outsourced and belong to farmers. “It is part of our empowerment drive and is aimed at bringing technology to people in the rural areas. Even the face pictures of our clients will be on the system and they may nominate and register representatives to use their cards and pin codes if they wish,” Masenya said and added that credits can however still be collected at Progress Milling in the city.
According to Masenya, the new system will not be cheaper at first, but will in time pay off because losses resulting from fraud will be minimal. “All information will be updated on a real time basis and can not be tampered with,” Masenya said. “Our business development officers will visit all the areas where we are operating as from 10 July and we trust that the system will be fully operational by 17 July,” Masenya concluded.

Story and photo: BARRY VILJOEN
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