By making market information available on the internet, local radio and mobile phones, a network of village information centres has helped to improve farmers’ incomes in Côte d’Ivoire.
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Issue 47:
February 2009
No more spilt milk
A group of dairy farmers in rural Uganda now use mobile phones to deal directly with buyers, to negotiate prices and organize delivery. Improved access to market information has reformed the way the farmers do business and has led to increased profits. By using technology to make the supply process more efficient the farmers no longer waste as much milk as they used to and are branching out to produce more dairy products and enter new markets.
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Getting the right price
Sending the right message
The Zambia National Farmers’ Union publishes up to date market information on the web and sends out trader and price details to farmers using a system of SMS messages.
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Exporting information
A Malian association uses ICTs to gather data from farmers to meet international export standards and makes the same information available on the web to help supply chain partners.
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Encouraging foreign exchange
The International Trade Centre works with local partners and market data services to gather and share price information and promote cross-border agricultural trade throughout West Africa.
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Computerizing dairy cooperatives
Faced with increased competition and fewer subsidies, many Kenyan dairy cooperatives are now using an information management program specially developed to help farming cooperatives run more efficiently.
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New market standards
There are many projects providing guidelines to help farmers break into new markets. One initiative is now coordinating all the information so that producers can choose the most suitable programme.
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A program to reach many farmers
Software, developed especially to be used by nonprofit organizations, provides a quick and easy way to send information to a large number of people at the same time.
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The business of information
ICT Update first reported on the Kenya Agricultural Commodity Exchange in December 2002. Today they use a wide range of media to deliver market information to farmers.
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More than market info
The mobile phone is certainly the instrument of choice for farmers and traders. With a mobile phone, farmers can check prices and give accurate delivery dates and times to customers.
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