Frances Ingenico Group said it partnered with payments technology company Paycode to help Zambia roll out a biometric system which is used to distribute subsidies
Under the government programme, called Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP), Zambia provides beneficiary farmers with subsidized fertilizer and hybrid maize seed.
Farmers enrolled in the system have their fingerprints stored for authentication and are issued an electronic wallet.
They make a co-payment of US$40 and the Ministry of Agriculture provides an additional US$160.
Farmers can then make use of this facility with approved dealers, who are equipped with Ingenico's biometric smart terminals. So far, US$22mn in subsidies has been distributed under the programme.
“We are proud to have served the Ministry of Agriculture by providing world-class technology that works in the remotest environments. We look forward to expanding our solution so every Zambian can have their money at their fingertips,” Gabe Ruhan, director of Paycode Zambia, said.
“This solution demonstrates our ability to support governments in deploying innovative subsidy programs rapidly, successfully and in remote regions. As a matter of fact, within 3 months, 91 per cent of eligible farmers have already purchased materials using the new solution,” Francois Voyron, Middle East and Africa managing director at Ingenico Group, said.
