A mobile based system for pesticides authenticity verification: a case of Tanzanian market

Abstract

Pesticides authenticity plays a great role in human health and environmental protection also economic progress of users, dealers and the government. In ensuring that authentic pesticides are sold in Tanzania, laws have been enacted and government bodies given mandate to enforce these laws. Despite the efforts, counterfeits are still found in markets. Data collection of this study involved one staff from pesticides regulatory authority (Tropical Pesticides Research Institute-TPRI), a total of six staffs from pesticides registrants/formulators/importers and 170 pesticides users preferably farmers all from Arusha region. Methods used were interviews and questionnaires. Findings revealed there is no any information system which is used by TPRI in managing pesticides information as well inspection is done on experience in threat areas. Furthermore, the dealers declared being victims of their products being counterfeited and pesticides customers have no reliable means of authenticating pesticides during purchase. Due to that, an ICT based solution to the identified problems was developed. The system contains two main parts which are a mobile application developed using Android Studio and web application using Python Flask framework having MySQL managed database. Therefore, this study not only targets in resolving the issue of authentic pesticides products, reporting of problems for products which haven’t worked as expected and the pesticides uses health tips. But also, management of pesticides information, handling of reported complaints and locating counterfeits by the TPRI. It likewise promises increase in the Tanzanian government revenue through levies.