Terms of Service

By creating an account, accessing, or using Maathai's services, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms of Service and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to these terms, you must not use our services.

These terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you and Maathai. We may update these terms from time to time, and your continued use of the service after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated terms.

What We Provide

Maathai is an agricultural advice platform that connects farmers with certified agricultural experts. Our services include:

• Expert Consultations: Connect with verified agricultural experts for personalized farming advice
• AI-Powered Plant Scanner: Use our on-device AI to identify plant diseases and pests
• Agricultural Resources: Access educational content and conservation information
• Community Features: Connect with other farmers and share experiences

We reserve the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue any part of our services at any time with or without notice.

Account Registration

To use certain features of Maathai, you must create an account. When creating an account, you agree to:

• Provide accurate, current, and complete information
• Maintain and update your information to keep it accurate
• Maintain the security of your account credentials (PIN/password)
• Accept responsibility for all activities under your account
• Notify us immediately of any unauthorized use of your account

Account Security

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials. You agree not to share your account with others or allow unauthorized access. Maathai is not liable for any loss or damage resulting from unauthorized account access.

Account Termination

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account if you violate these terms, engage in fraudulent activity, or misuse our services. You may also delete your account at any time through the app settings.

Acceptable Use

You agree to use Maathai only for lawful purposes and in accordance with these terms. You agree not to:

• Violate any applicable laws or regulations
• Infringe on the rights of others, including intellectual property rights
• Transmit harmful, offensive, or inappropriate content
• Impersonate others or provide false information
• Interfere with or disrupt the service or servers
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to any part of the service
• Use automated systems to access the service without permission
• Harass, abuse, or harm other users or experts

Consequences of Violations

Violation of these terms may result in immediate termination of your account and legal action where appropriate. We reserve the right to investigate and take appropriate action against any suspected violations.

Expert Verification

Agricultural experts on Maathai are verified professionals with relevant qualifications and experience. However:

• We verify expert credentials to the best of our ability, but cannot guarantee the accuracy of all information
• Expert advice is provided for informational purposes and should not replace professional agricultural consultation when needed
• Experts are independent contractors, not employees of Maathai
• We are not responsible for the quality, accuracy, or outcomes of expert advice

Consultation Agreements

When you engage with an expert:

• You enter into a direct agreement with the expert, not with Maathai
• Payment terms are agreed upon between you and the expert
• Maathai facilitates the connection but is not a party to the consultation agreement
• Disputes between users and experts should be resolved directly or through our support system

Payment Processing

Maathai uses secure third-party payment processors (e.g., Paystack, M-Pesa) to handle payments:

• All payments are processed securely through our payment partners
• We do not store your full payment card information
• Payment terms and fees are clearly displayed before you complete a transaction
• Refunds are subject to our refund policy and the terms of the specific service

Subscription Services

If you subscribe to premium features:

• Subscriptions are billed according to the selected plan
• Subscriptions automatically renew unless cancelled
• You can cancel your subscription at any time through the app
• Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period

Our Content

All content on Maathai, including text, graphics, logos, images, and software, is the property of Maathai or its licensors and is protected by copyright and other intellectual property laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works without our written permission.

Your Content

When you upload content to Maathai (photos, messages, etc.):

• You retain ownership of your content
• You grant Maathai a license to use, display, and distribute your content as necessary to provide our services
• You represent that you have the right to share the content
• You agree not to upload content that violates others' rights

Service Availability

Maathai is provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind. We do not guarantee that:

• The service will be uninterrupted or error-free
• Defects will be corrected
• The service is free from viruses or harmful components
• The results obtained from using the service will be accurate or reliable

Agricultural Advice

Important: The information and advice provided through Maathai, including AI-generated recommendations and expert consultations, are for informational purposes only. They should not be considered as professional agricultural, legal, or financial advice. Always consult with qualified professionals for critical farming decisions.

To the maximum extent permitted by law, Maathai and its affiliates shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including but not limited to:

• Loss of profits, data, or crops
• Business interruption
• Personal injury or property damage
• Damages resulting from use or inability to use our services

Our total liability for any claims arising from your use of Maathai shall not exceed the amount you paid to us in the 12 months preceding the claim.

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Maathai, its officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including legal fees) arising from:

• Your use of the service
• Your violation of these terms
• Your violation of any rights of another party
• Content you submit or transmit through the service

We reserve the right to modify these Terms of Service at any time. When we make changes:

• We will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page
• We will notify you through the app or via email for significant changes
• Your continued use of Maathai after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated terms

If you do not agree to the updated terms, you must stop using our services and may delete your account.

These Terms of Service shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Kenya, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. Any disputes arising from these terms or your use of Maathai shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Kenya.