At NM-AIST (“we”, “us”, or “our”), we respect your privacy and are committed to protecting the personal information of users of the Ng’ombe Smart mobile application (“Ng’ombe Smart” or the “App”). This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use and protect it, and your choices regarding your information. This Policy applies to all users of Ng’ombe Smart. By using the App, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the App.
1. Information We Collect
Personal Information: When you create an account on Ng’ombe Smart (optional for using basic features), we may collect certain personal details from you, including:
- Name (e.g., your full name as a farmer or extension officer)
- Phone Number (used for account login and contact verification)
- Farm Name (the name of your farm or dairy business, if provided)
- Login Credentials (such as a PIN or password you set for securing your account)
Farm and Usage Data: The App also collects and stores data that you input related to your farm management activities, for example:
- Farm Assessment Records: Your responses to farm assessment questionnaires, results, and generated reports about farm management practices.
- Feed Formulation Data: Information on feed rations you formulate using the App (e.g., ingredients selected, quantities, and the nutritional reports generated).
- Usage History: A history of your activities within the App, such as past assessments completed or feed formulations saved, which is tied to your account for your reference.
This information is collected when you actively enter data into the App or use its features. Providing an account and personal information is optional – you can use core features like performing a farm assessment or formulating a feed ration without creating an account or providing personal details. However, if you choose not to create an account, your data will be stored only locally on your device, and you will not be able to save results for later access on multiple devices or sessions. In order to save your records and access them later across devices, an account is required (which involves providing the personal details listed above).
We do NOT collect any sensitive personal information such as financial information, national ID numbers, or precise location data through Ng’ombe Smart. We also do not knowingly collect any data from persons under 18 years of age (see Children’s Privacy below).
2. How We Use Your Information
We use the collected information for the following purposes:
- To Provide and Improve the App’s Services: We process your data to enable the App’s core functionalities. For example, your login information is used to authenticate your access; your farm assessment answers and feed inputs are used to generate tailored reports and recommendations for you. We also may analyze aggregated usage data to improve App features, user experience, and content relevance over time.
- User Account Maintenance: If you create an account, we use your personal details (name, phone) to create and maintain your user profile. This allows you to securely save your farm records and retrieve them when you log in from the same or another device.
- Historical Tracking: Storing your farm assessments and feed formulation records allows the App to provide you with a history of your farm’s data. This helps you track progress over time and review past results (for example, to see improvements or changes in farm practices).
- Communication: We may use your contact information (such as phone number or email, if provided) to send you important notifications about the App. This might include updates to this Privacy Policy or EULA, alerts about new features, or customer support responses. (We will not send promotional or marketing messages without appropriate consent, and the App currently does not have in-app marketing.)
- Customer Support: If you reach out to us via email or through the App for support, we will use the information you provide to help resolve your issue or answer your questions. This may include looking into your account data or usage history to better assist you.
- Research and Development: In an effort to improve livestock farming practices, we may occasionally use de-identified, aggregated data (that cannot identify you personally) to conduct research or analysis. Any such research will be for improving the App’s algorithms (like refining feed formulation calculations) or adding new educational content that addresses common user needs. We will not use or share personal data for these purposes in any way that could identify you individually.
We will not use your personal information for any purpose that is incompatible with the purposes described above without obtaining your consent.
3. Data Sharing and Disclosure
No Selling of Data: We do not sell or rent your personal information to any third parties for marketing or any other purposes.
No Third-Party Integrations: Ng’ombe Smart currently does not integrate with any external third-party services (such as analytics providers, advertising networks, or social media platforms). This means your data is not automatically transmitted to any outside platforms or companies when you use the App. All processing is done within the App and our own backend systems.
Legal Requirements: We may disclose your personal information only if required by law or lawful order – for instance, in response to a court order, subpoena, or other legal process in Tanzania. We may also disclose information if we believe in good faith that such action is necessary to (i) comply with a legal obligation, (ii) protect and defend the rights or property of NM-AIST, (iii) prevent fraud or abuse, (iv) act in urgent circumstances to protect the personal safety of users or the public, or (v) protect against legal liability. In all cases, we will limit the information disclosed to only what is necessary and will inform you if legally permissible.
Other than the instances described above, we do not share your personal data with any third parties.
4. Data Security and Retention
Security Measures: We take the security of your data seriously. NM-AIST implements appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, loss, misuse, or alteration. These measures include, for example, encryption of data in transit to our servers (using HTTPS), secure storage of passwords (e.g., hashed or PIN-coded credentials), and firewall and intrusion detection systems to safeguard our database. We also restrict access to personal data to authorized personnel who need to know that information to operate, develop, or improve the App, and these individuals are subject to strict confidentiality obligations.
While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your information, please understand that no method of transmission over the Internet or method of electronic storage is 100% secure. Therefore, we cannot guarantee absolute security. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account login credentials and for restricting access to your mobile device. Notify us immediately (at info@nottech.co.tz) if you believe your account has been compromised.
Data Retention: We will retain your personal information for as long as your account is active or as long as necessary to provide you with the App’s services. This means we keep your data while you continue to use the App and have not deleted your account. If you choose to delete your account or if your account is inactive for an extended period, we will delete or anonymize your personal data associated with that account, unless we are required by law to retain it for a longer period. Farm assessment records and feed formulation data associated with your account will similarly be erased or de-identified upon account deletion. We periodically review our data storage to ensure we are not keeping data longer than needed.
Backup copies of data may persist for a short period in our backup systems after deletion, but we will securely erase or destroy those backups in the normal course of backup rotation. We retain aggregate, non-identifiable data (which cannot be linked back to an individual user) indefinitely for analytical purposes, but this data contains no personal information.
5. User Accounts and Control
Optional Account Creation: As noted, creating an account in Ng’ombe Smart is optional but enables enhanced features (like saving data across sessions). If you decide not to create an account, you can still use many features of the App without providing personal information. In that case, any data you input (e.g., for a single feed formulation or assessment) remains only on your device and is not uploaded to our servers. Keep in mind that if you clear the App’s data or uninstall it without an account, that locally stored information may be lost permanently.
Access and Updates: You can review and update your personal profile information (such as your name, phone number, or farm name) at any time within the App’s account settings (if such feature is available) or by contacting us at our support email. It is your responsibility to ensure that the personal information you provide is accurate and up-to-date. We encourage you to update your details whenever they change.
Data Export: If you wish to obtain a copy of your data (for example, your farm assessment results or feed formulation history), you may contact us at info@nottech.co.tz with a request. We will provide you with your data in a commonly used electronic format, within a reasonable time and as required by applicable law.
Account Deletion: You have the right to delete your account and personal data at any time. You may do so either through an account deletion option in the App (if available) or by sending us a deletion request at info@nottech.co.tz Upon verification of your identity (to protect against fraudulent requests), we will proceed to delete your account and all personal data associated with it. After deletion, you will no longer be able to recover your farm records through the App. We will confirm to you once the deletion process is completed. Note that after deletion, residual copies might remain in backups for a short period (as noted under Data Retention), but those will be purged according to our standard backup policy.
6. Children’s Privacy
Ng’ombe Smart is not intended for children under the age of 18, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 18 years of age. Our App and its content are designed for adult farmers, agricultural extension officers, and service providers. If you are under 18, please do not use this App or provide any personal information to us.
7. Legal Compliance
We handle personal data in accordance with the laws and regulations of the United Republic of Tanzania. NM-AIST abides by the requirements of Tanzania’s data protection laws, including the Personal Data Protection Act, 2022 (PDPA), which mandates that personal data be processed lawfully, fairly, and securely for specified purposes. We ensure that we only collect data that is relevant and necessary for the purposes described, and we protect your data in line with the PDPA’s principles and any other applicable regulations.
8. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update or revise this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. When we make changes, we will update the “Last Updated” date at the top of this Policy. If the changes are significant, we may also provide a more prominent notice (such as a notification within the App or an email to account holders). We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we are protecting your information. Your continued use of the App after any changes to this Policy constitutes your acceptance of the updated terms.
9. Contact Us
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or the data we hold about you, please feel free to contact us: