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by is app implemented The VCC whose Nepal International Heifer cooperative assist personnel field app the in downloading members training and providing while The stages. the initial in monitoring intuitive, be to isapp designed for intensive the need eliminating the cooperatives, Within training. “VCC by isapp accessed of members are who managers”, self cooperative the within (subgroups cooperative and cooperatives), the by transmitted data All leaders. housed server a by are captured app Nepal International Heifer at currently is app The VCC offices. a through evaluated being 92 involving trial randomized cooperatives. producer

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| Website: http://livestocklab.ifas.ufl.edu/ Website: | Dietary Quality Dietary

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[email protected] - Nutrition Linkage: Nutrition Applied in: Applied New/Adapted: : University of Florida of : University

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Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Livestock Systems | University of Florida of University Livestock Systems | the for Feed Lab Future Innovation Technology Technology

P.O. Box 110910 | Gainesville, Florida | Livestock | Florida 110910 Box Gainesville, P.O. | Mainly Women Mainly Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Livestock Systems Livestock for Lab Innovation the Future Feed

Lead Implementing Institution Implementing Lead Marketing & Distribution Distribution & Marketing

Innovation Type: Innovation for: Created

Category:

and benefit small livestock producers by increasing by volumes. producers trade and livestock benefit small by inviting members to sales events. The VCC app improves the goat value VCC app The events. improves by inviting to sales members which strengthen should cooperatives costs, chain transaction by reducing app to share price information with members and fill orders from from traders and with orders fill priceapp members information to share cooperative members to leaders, while cooperative leaders use the VCC use cooperative whileleaders cooperative to leaders, members service (SMS) mobile application (app) for improved goat improved marketing. (SMS) mobile application (app) for service from flow VCC updates the of use app, inventory the Through The Virtual Collection Center (VCC) is an innovative short message message Virtual short (VCC) an Center Collection The innovative is SMARTPHONE APP SMARTPHONE SMS “VIRTUAL COLLECT “VIRTUAL SMS INNOVATION SUMMARY: INNOVATION

faced by cooperative producers when marketing goats. Traders will feel more confident more confident feel will Traders goats. marketing when producers cooperative by faced sale. of a in advance met be will needs quality and quantity that their and locations in sales event invitations, the VCC app will remove much of the uncertainty uncertainty of the much remove will app VCC the invitations, event sales in locations and revenue. Inventory provided through the app lets cooperative leaders know instantly instantly know leaders cooperative lets app the through provided Inventory revenue. agreed By including traders. of demands the meet can they whether the time and uncertainty associated with goat marketing, thereby increasing goat sales and and sales goat increasing thereby marketing, goat with associated uncertainty and the time The VCC app replaces a marketing coordination system based on infrequent face based on infrequent system coordination marketing a replaces app The VCC reduce should app The VCC traders. and members, leaders, cooperative between meetings

while raising farmer incomes and developing the goat value chain. chain. value the goat developing and incomes raising farmer while rugged terrain, possibly failing to solve the transaction cost problem. Technologies that that Technologies cost problem. the transaction to solve failing possibly terrain, rugged cooperatives strengthen therefore could activities marketing of coordination improve cooperatives may struggle to coordinate sales by members spread out over large areas of areas large over out spread members by sales coordinate to struggle may cooperatives necessary to complete sales. The resulting high transaction costs can stifle the value chain. chain. the value stifle can costs transaction high The resulting sales. to complete necessary But of animals. bulk purchases for allowing by costs transaction reduce can Cooperatives by rugged terrain and poor infrastructure, making multiple visits to individual households households to individual visits multiple making infrastructure, poor and terrain rugged by In Nepal, goats are an essential source of income and nearly every rural Nepali household household rural Nepali every nearly and income of source essential an are goats In Nepal, characterized areas large over travel often goats, traders buy To goats. a few least owns at