The verdict in three sentences
An input shop lives two seasons in one: the rainy-season peak when everything sells, and the harvest when credit must come back. The paper ledger lets 10 to 25 % of defaults slip and hides expired lots of fertilizer and crop products. Software links stock, expiry dates, per-farmer credit and mobile money collection, turning seasonal credit into money actually recovered.
Seasonal stock and expiry: stop throwing away money
Inputs come in lots with expiry dates: an expired fertilizer or crop-protection product is unsellable and can even create liability for the seller. Without lot tracking, you discover the problem too late, mid-season.
| Criteria | Paper ledger | Input software |
|---|---|---|
| Lot/expiry tracking | none | alert before expiry |
| Restock before rainy season | by gut feel | based on history |
| Stockouts at peak | frequent | anticipated |
| Expired product losses | 3-8 % of stock | < 1 % |
| Inventory | 1-2 closed days | continuous |
| Price per variety | memory/paper | up-to-date catalog |
Seasonal credit: the heart of the business
Harvest-repaid credit is the norm, but without rigorous tracking it becomes a sieve. The software opens a file per farmer or cooperative, tracks each advance and its harvest due date, and collects via Wave/Orange Money when the farmer sells their crop.
| Indicator | Without software | With software |
|---|---|---|
| Per-farmer credit tracking | scattered ledger | single file |
| Default rate | 10-25 % | 5-12 % |
| Pre-harvest reminder | forgotten | scheduled SMS/auto |
| Harvest collection | cash, travel | remote Wave/OM |
| Reliability history | from memory | score per client |
| Credit ceiling | arbitrary | history-based |
Mini case study
Awa runs an input shop near Kaolack: 300 farmers, 45,000,000 FCFA in season sales, 60 % on credit (27,000,000 FCFA). Her ledger default rate ran around 18 %, that is ~4,860,000 FCFA unrecovered, plus ~1,500,000 FCFA of expired fertilizer dumped. With the software: scheduled pre-harvest reminders, remote Wave collection, lot tracking. Defaults fall toward 10 % (estimated gain ~2,100,000 FCFA) and stock losses drop below 1 %. Over one season, the gain exceeds 3,500,000 FCFA. The tool (2026 ballpark: 900,000 to 1,800,000 FCFA) pays back within the first season.
FAQ
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Does the software handle harvest-repaid credit?
Yes. Each advance is tied to a farmer file with a harvest-linked due date. The system schedules SMS reminders and tracks the outstanding balance at all times.
Can a farmer be collected remotely at harvest time?
Yes, via a Wave or Orange Money link. The farmer pays from their village without you traveling, and the credit clears automatically.
How do you avoid selling expired inputs?
Each lot has its expiry date. The software alerts weeks ahead, lets you clear stock as a priority and blocks sales past the date.
Does it work for a cooperative, not just individual farmers?
Yes. You can open a file at cooperative level with farmer sub-accounts, and consolidate both credit and payments.
Does it work without permanent connectivity?
Yes, offline: sales and credit are entered locally and sync when the network returns, useful in rural areas.
Let's talk about your project. We model your seasonal stock and seasonal credit on your real numbers before you decide. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
