Platform Overview
Purpose
This document defines the high-level architecture of the Farmer1st platform, an agricultural technology ecosystem serving millions of farmers worldwide.
Current State
Target Scale
- Users: 100 Million (majority farmers)
- Global: Farmers worldwide, multiple regions
- Multi-stakeholder: Farmers, cooperatives, brands, factories, agents
Ecosystem Components
The Farmer1st platform consists of two primary interface categories:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ FARMER1ST ECOSYSTEM │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ ┌─────────────────┐ ┌─────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ FARMER APP │ │ STAKEHOLDER PORTALS │ │
│ │ (PWA) │ │ (Web) │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ • Mobile-first │ │ • Data visualization │ │
│ │ • Offline-capable │ • Administrative actions │ │
│ │ • Low-end device │ • Reporting & analytics │ │
│ │ compatible │ │ • Farmer management │ │
│ └────────┬────────┘ └──────────────┬──────────────┘ │
│ │ │ │
│ └──────────────┬──────────────────┘ │
│ │ │
│ ▼ │
│ ┌─────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ PYTHON BACKEND │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ • API Services │ │
│ │ • Business Logic │ │
│ │ • Data Processing │ │
│ └─────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
1. Farmer App (PWA)
- Type: Progressive Web Application
- Technology: React
- Target Users: Farmers worldwide
- Key Constraint: Must run on old/low-end mobile devices
- Distribution: Web-based (no app store dependency)
2. Stakeholder Portals (Web)
- Type: Web Applications
- Technology: TBD (likely React for consistency)
- Target Users: Various stakeholders (agronomists, cooperatives, government agencies, NGOs, etc.)
- Purpose: View and act on farmer data
3. Backend Services
- Technology: Python
- Role: Central API layer serving both farmer app and stakeholder portals
Decisions and Rationale
| Decision | Rationale |
|---|---|
| PWA for farmer app | No app store friction; works offline; installable; single codebase for all platforms; updates without user action |
| React for PWA | Large ecosystem; strong PWA support; component reusability; widespread developer availability |
| Python backend | Excellent for data processing; strong ML/AI ecosystem for future agricultural insights; readable and maintainable |
| Web portals for stakeholders | Desktop-first usage pattern; easier to build complex data interfaces; no installation required |
Trade-offs Considered
PWA vs Native App
- Chose PWA because:
- Reaches more farmers (no Play Store account needed)
- Works on very old Android devices via browser
- Single codebase reduces maintenance
- Instant updates without user intervention
- Trade-off accepted:
- Some native features may be limited
- iOS PWA support is less robust than Android
Python Backend vs Node.js
- Chose Python because:
- Better data science and ML ecosystem
- Agricultural domain often involves data analysis
- Team expertise (assumed)
- Trade-off accepted:
- Slightly more complex to achieve real-time features compared to Node.js
Dependencies and Constraints
Critical Constraints
- Device Compatibility: Must support Android 5.0+ and low-RAM devices (1-2GB)
- Network Conditions: Must handle intermittent connectivity (offline-first design required)
- Global Scale: Must support millions of users across different regions
- Localization: Multi-language support essential
External Dependencies
- TBD (cloud providers, third-party services)
Open Questions
- Which stakeholder types will have portals?
- What is the expected data volume per farmer?
- What are the target regions and their specific constraints?
- Authentication strategy (SMS OTP, social login, etc.)?
Last Updated: 2025-12-25