Agri-tech startup Doorcas expands its disease reporting and veterinary access services with a mobile-first AI solution.
AI Integration to Improve Access
Nigerian agri-tech startup Doorcas (site) has launched a new AI-powered WhatsApp chat platform and user-friendly webpage to make its livestock health and disease reporting services more accessible to farmers. Founded in 2023, Doorcas operates a social and disease reporting platform aimed at reducing livestock mortality and associated economic losses across rural, semi-rural, and urban areas in Nigeria.
According to the company, the WhatsApp solution offers farmers an easy way to access its services, from connecting with veterinary professionals to reporting suspected disease outbreaks. The platform currently serves a growing community of over 1,000 users.
Backed by New Funding
The launch follows the startup’s receipt of multiple grants, including US$5,500 from the Graduate School of Business at the University of Cape Town, EUR6,000 (US$7,000) from Start Global, and hardware development funding from the World Health Innovation Fellowship in India.
Addressing Livestock Mortality
Doorcas’ mission builds on its earlier work connecting livestock owners with certified veterinary care providers. Through its mobile app and SMS reminders, the startup helps farmers keep track of vaccination schedules, prevent the spread of disease, and improve animal welfare.
Farmers can also report suspected cases of infectious disease, enabling the collection of data for AI-driven analysis. This data supports research into disease patterns, the development of veterinary medicines and vaccines, and the creation of predictive models.
CEO Abayomi Odole said, “We have continuous disease surveillance data collected across multiple poultry farms for analysis and reporting using our AI-powered system.”
Tackling a US$1.5 Billion Problem
The need for such solutions is underscored by figures from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), which estimate that Nigeria loses around US$1.5 billion annually to livestock diseases — roughly 1.5% of GDP. Many farmers rely on unqualified health service providers or self-medicate livestock, increasing the risk of zoonotic disease transmission.
By making veterinary care more affordable through subsidised service coupons and expanding its AI-driven analytics, Doorcas aims to help farmers take proactive steps against endemic diseases.
Looking Ahead
Doorcas plans to continue refining its platform to be more user-friendly for small-scale farmers and to expand access in major African languages. While the startup is currently focused on the Nigerian market, it has ambitions to extend its services across Sub-Saharan Africa and beyond.
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