Maintain weather stations
The maintenance of the weather stations is done by the local science teacher at the school where the station is located. These teachers are paid by TAHMO. This means that TAHMO needs an income. These are fixed costs, because the teachers have to check if the weather station is still functioning. However, over the time, there will be variable costs as well. When parts break down, new ones have to be replaced. This is not completely predictable, thus makes it a variable.
Another probable event is that weather stations can be damaged by intruders. This will bring unforeseen expenses that need a funding a well.
Broadcast time
At the moment, there are multiple LBCs active in the same area. However, this subject is to change. Every district is to get its own LBC that is responsible for its farmers.
This change makes it excellent to broadcast the Farmer Forecast in a local area. It is possible to limit the reach of the radio to only deliver it to a specific region. Therefore, there is a possibility to have the LBC active in the area sponsor the local weather forecast.
Since the LBC has a monopoly in the area, the data cannot be used by farmers that are connected to another LBC. This means no data is given to away for free to help their competitors.
This does not account for all districts of course, so it is important to start with the districts that do qualify for these criteria. This makes it easier to start up the service. If there are multiple LBCs active in the area, there should be cooperated between the LBCs and arrangements to distribute the costs equally to the market share in the specific region.
Salary translator
In Ghana, the main language is English, but there are also a lot of local languages. Many farmers do not speak English, but a conversation with them is very essential. This is why a translator is needed. Farmerline will provide in this matter.
Use of data of TAHMO by Farmerline
At the start of Farmerline, the data delivered by TAHMO will be for free. This helps the company to start up without a lot of costs, making the chance of success much bigger. However, when Farmerline has become a well operating company, they are to pay for the data. This is why it is important to start earning from the service as soon as possible.
Farmerline is trying to do this by delivering other services as well. One standalone service will not be sold, but if one combines a few separate services into a package and brings that to market. The chance to success will increase. One could develop several services and sell them all at once. However, this is not the best way to act. If one uses the theory of the ‘Lean Start-Up’ [Steve Blank, 2013], it becomes clear that selling the product at start from its most basic form and then expanding it, gives a more developed product at the end of the day.
The users can give input while the product is still in development, so changes can be made much quicker. Moreover, the users see how the product is improving. This will give them a better understanding of the product and in the end, they will keep using it, as it is adjusted to their needs. In summary, by making use of the lean start- up, one starts selling the product in an early stage, thus earning money sooner. This gives one money to develop the product and the customer can help improve the product on the go.
The making of the weather forecast
TAHMO makes the weather forecast at the moment. They implement their data into their models and can predict the weather by this. In Ghana, it is a little bit more complicated. The meteorological institute GMet does not allow other instances to predict the weather without being involved themselves. This means that in order to function in Ghana, TAHMO needs to pay a fee to GMet. GMet will give approval to broadcast the weather data on the radio. Next to this, the name GMet gives the forecast reliability.