The Traceability Process

Process Outlined

• Farmers register on the mobile app and create a profile. A field officer can also onboard farmers.
• Farmers register their farms by providing the required details. If Maphlix itself has farms/plts, it will need to register itself as a farmer and register its farms.
• The app automatically generates a unique QR code and traceability code once a farm is created.
• Farmers record farm activities (fertilizer application, pesticide spraying, irrigation, harvesting) with dates and quantities used. These activities can also be recorded by field officers. Each activity must be tied to a farm. The recording of the first activity marks the beginning of a planting season.
• Recording of harvesting or the final activity marks the end of a vegetable planting season. Assuming the final activity is harvesting for example, this can be carried out multiple times. Some crops can be harvested as many as 15 times before the close of the season.
• Users scan the QR code for a farm to access the farm's traceability data. These will be all the activities carried out on that farm during the season.

We know what activity number is being recorded because when setting up, the admin specifies the activities and their numbers.

Flow Diagram

Below is a diagram capturing the above outlined process.

Flow Diagram Explained

The flow only focuses on traceability.

• A user signs up and verifies their account.
• The user then signs in to their account.
• If the user is a farmer they can either create a farm, list the farms they have already created or scan a QR code.
• If the user is not a farmer, they can scan QR codes or enter a code.
• The user will see a list of activities for the farm the QR code is linked to.

The consumer does not need to sign in to view traceability information. Anyone with a traceability or QR code should be able to view information tied to that code.

Traceability Data to Display

The end users who receive the final products and scan the QR code or enter the traceability code should see the following information about the products:

• Company details: Name, website and address.
• Date planted
• Date harvested
• Activities performed
• Certifications and test results

Code Sequence

A QR code / traceability code will automatically be generated when a farm is created. Scanning or entering this code will provide all activities tied to that farm.

There is a logic to how the traceability codes are generated. An example traceability code is shown below.

MTLFN23003

The following is the breakdown of the above traceability code.

Since farm registration can be done offline, it is important to ensure the traceability codes are unique. The farmer ID is what enforces this, because two farmers should/can never have the same ID.

Recording of all activities will be tied to this code until the farming season is done. Once the farming season is done, the farm is archived.

Benefits of Tracing

• Improved transparency: Provides real-time data on farming practices for all stakeholders.
• Enhanced food safety: Enables tracking of fertilizer and pesticide use to ensure compliance with regulations.
• Streamlined operations: Simplifies data collection and record-keeping for farmers and Maphlix.
• Increased consumer confidence: Provides consumers with information about the origin and production methods of their food.