Farmer Management

The Farmer module (agrios_farmer) is a core component of AgriOS that manages farmer identities, profiles, group memberships, and interactions. This module serves as the central point for all farmer-related data within the system.

Overview

The Farmer module provides tools to:

  • Register and manage farmer profiles

  • Organize farmers into groups (cooperatives, associations)

  • Track interactions and communications with farmers

  • Manage certifications and compliance records

  • Record contracts and agreements

  • Organize farmers by geographic areas

Farmer Profiles

Creating a Farmer

To register a new farmer in AgriOS:

  1. Navigate to Farmers > Farmers in the main menu

  2. Click Create to open a new farmer form

  3. Fill in the required information:

    • Name: Full name of the farmer

    • Contact Information: Phone number, email (if available)

    • Location: Area, region, or village

    • Group Membership: Assign to a farmer group if applicable

  4. Click Save to create the farmer record

Farmer Profile Fields

Each farmer profile contains:

  • Personal Information: Name, gender, date of birth

  • Contact Details: Phone numbers, address, GPS coordinates

  • Identification: National ID, farmer registration number

  • Household Information: Household size, dependents

  • Group Membership: Associated cooperatives or farmer groups

  • Status: Active, inactive, or suspended

Searching and Filtering Farmers

Use the search bar and filters to find farmers by:

  • Name or ID

  • Group membership

  • Location/area

  • Registration date

  • Certification status

Farmer Groups

Farmer groups represent cooperatives, associations, or other organizational units that farmers belong to.

Creating a Farmer Group

  1. Navigate to Farmers > Farmer Groups

  2. Click Create

  3. Enter group details:

    • Group Name: Name of the cooperative or association

    • Group Type: Cooperative, association, or other

    • Location: Primary location of the group

    • Contact Person: Leader or representative

  4. Click Save

Managing Group Membership

To add farmers to a group:

  1. Open the farmer group record

  2. Go to the Members tab

  3. Click Add a line and select farmers

  4. Save the changes

Alternatively, you can assign a group from the farmer’s profile page.

Farmer Interactions

Track all communications and interactions with farmers, including:

  • Field visits

  • Phone calls

  • Training attendance

  • Support requests

  • Follow-up activities

Recording an Interaction

  1. Open the farmer’s profile

  2. Click the Interactions smart button

  3. Click Create

  4. Fill in interaction details:

    • Type: Visit, call, meeting, etc.

    • Date: When the interaction occurred

    • Summary: Brief description of the interaction

    • Notes: Detailed notes or outcomes

    • Follow-up Required: Check if action is needed

  5. Save the interaction

Area Hierarchy

AgriOS uses a hierarchical area structure to organize farmers geographically:

  • Country > Region > District > Village/Community

This hierarchy allows for:

  • Geographic reporting and analytics

  • Location-based farmer searches

  • Regional performance comparisons

Setting Up Areas

  1. Navigate to Configuration > Areas

  2. Create areas in hierarchical order (parent areas first)

  3. Assign the parent area for each level

  4. Link farmers to the appropriate area level

Certifications

Track farmer certifications for compliance and quality assurance programs.

Managing Certifications

  1. Open the farmer’s profile

  2. Go to the Certifications tab

  3. Add certification records:

    • Certification Type: Organic, Fair Trade, Rainforest Alliance, etc.

    • Issue Date: When certification was granted

    • Expiry Date: When certification expires

    • Status: Valid, expired, pending renewal

Contracts

The Farmer module supports basic contract tracking for agreements with farmers.

Creating a Farmer Contract

  1. Open the farmer’s profile

  2. Click the Contracts smart button

  3. Create a new contract with:

    • Contract Type: Purchase agreement, supply contract, etc.

    • Start Date and End Date

    • Terms: Key contract terms and conditions

    • Status: Draft, active, completed, cancelled

Reports and Analytics

Access farmer-related reports from Farmers > Reporting:

  • Farmer Registration Report: New registrations over time

  • Group Membership Report: Farmers per group

  • Geographic Distribution: Farmers by area

  • Certification Status: Certification compliance overview

Integration with Other Modules

The Farmer module integrates with:

  • Plots (agrios_plot): Link farmers to their land parcels

  • Training (agrios_training): Track farmer participation in training programs

  • Trade (agrios_trade): Record transactions and deliveries

  • KoBoToolbox (agrios_kobo): Import farmer data from field surveys

Note

For plot and land management, see the Plot Management documentation. For training programs, see the Training Management documentation.

Tips and Best Practices

  • Use unique identifiers: Always assign a unique farmer ID or use national ID numbers

  • Keep contact info current: Regularly verify and update phone numbers

  • Document interactions: Record all significant farmer interactions for history

  • Review certifications: Set up reminders for expiring certifications

  • Organize by groups: Use farmer groups to simplify bulk operations and reporting