Farmer Programme Terms of Service

About these terms

These terms explain how ABLE ecosystems PBC (“ABLE”, “we”) runs its farmer programme in Ghana and what you agree to when you take part. They apply to farmers who sign or thumbprint ABLE’s paper consent form and then receive phone calls and WhatsApp messages from us.

Please read them together with our Farmer Programme Privacy Policy, which explains how we collect, use and protect your information. Your farm guide can go through these terms with you.

What the programme is

In the programme we call you and send you WhatsApp messages to ask questions about you, your household and your farm, such as farm size, crops, harvests and farming practices. We use your answers to understand farmers’ needs and plan support.

ABLE does not buy cocoa, lend money or inspect farms. Taking part does not promise you a loan, a price, a contract or a certificate, and nothing said in our calls or messages is farming, financial or legal advice.

Taking part is your choice

• You choose whether to take part. You can say no, skip any question, or stop at any time.
• Stopping will not affect your place in any ABLE programme or any payment or support due to you.
• The programme is only for people aged 18 or older who farm in Ghana.
• If you share your phone, someone else may answer our call or see our messages. Tell your farm guide if you would rather we contacted you another way or at another time.

Calls and WhatsApp messages

• Sender: calls and WhatsApp messages come from +1 260 297 4252, a US number, and identify ABLE.
• When: we call and message between 9am and 5pm (Ghana time), Monday to Friday. Message frequency varies.
• Cost: answering our calls is free. Message and data rates may apply depending on your mobile phone plan.
• Automated calls and messages: some calls and messages come from an automated assistant (a computer voice or computer-written messages) instead of a person. It will tell you so.
• Recording: we record calls only if you agreed to it on the consent form.
• Delivery: mobile networks and WhatsApp are not responsible for messages that arrive late or not at all.

Stopping and getting help

• Stop: reply STOP on WhatsApp, say “stop” during a call, or tell your farm guide. We stop within 2 working days and may send one message confirming you will not be contacted again.
• Help: reply HELP on WhatsApp to +1 260 297 4252 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm), or email hello@ableecosystems.com.
• Starting again: if you change your mind after stopping, tell your farm guide. We will ask for your consent again before we contact you.

Payments

If ABLE pays you for taking part, we will tell you the amount, how it is paid and when, before you start. We pay only in the way we told you. A payment is for your time and does not depend on what your answers are.

ABLE will never ask you for money, your PIN or your Mobile Money details. If someone does, it is not us. Tell your farm guide or message us.

What we ask of you

• Answer as truthfully as you can. If you do not know an answer, it is fine to say so.
• Do not send anything that is unlawful, threatening or abusive, or that is not yours to share.

Your information

We handle your information as our Farmer Programme Privacy Policy describes, in line with Ghana’s Data Protection Act, 2012 (Act 843). It explains what we collect, who we share it with, how long we keep it, and how to see, correct or delete it. We share results with others only as summaries that do not name or identify you.

Our responsibility to you

We run the programme with reasonable care and skill. We are not responsible for problems we cannot reasonably control, such as network outages or someone else using your phone. Nothing in these terms takes away any right you have under the laws of Ghana.

Changes to the programme or these terms

We may change or end the programme, or update these terms. We will post the new version on this page with a new effective date and tell you about important changes by call, WhatsApp or through your farm guide. If a change affects what you agreed to, we will ask for your consent again.

Law

These terms are governed by the laws of Ghana.

Questions and complaints

If you have a question or are unhappy with the programme, tell your farm guide, send a WhatsApp message to +1 260 297 4252, or email hello@ableecosystems.com, and we will work with you to put it right.

If you are unhappy with how we handle your information, you can also complain to Ghana’s Data Protection Commission at dataprotection.org.gh.

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