FOODNET

Farmers in East and Central Africa can now get a better deal for their products as they can have access to market price information on commodities via FM radio, mobile phones, email and the internet. According to this article, the project, called FOODNET, is benefiting millions of farmers in this region.

In this article published in "ICT Update" by the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation, "Shaun Ferris explains how FOODNET, an ASARECA marketing and agro-enterprise network for East and Central Africa, is delivering reliable market information to farmers in Uganda, using a mix of conventional media, the Internet, mobile phones and other ICTs. In Uganda, FOODNET’s market information services currently reach over 7 million people each week."

FM radio and mobile phones

One of the best means of reaching rural, small-scale farmers - many of whom cannot read, is by FM radio. Each week, a 15-minute radio programme is broadcast to the nation via 12 FM radio stations in eight local languages.

FOODNET has also taken advantage of the mobile phone industry that has become available and quite popular in the last five years. According to the author, more than 800,000 phones are in circulation. FOODNET has established a commodity price database that can be accessed by SMS (short message service). "In addition to voice communication, mobile phone users can now type in a key word such as ‘maize’ and send a text message to the MTN 2 service provider and receive an instant update on the prices of maize on markets across the country. This information is used by farmers, farmers’ associations and also by travelling traders who can identify market price differentials and shift lower-priced goods to higher-priced markets. It is these activities that make markets operate more efficiently."

The Internet and WorldSpace

"For larger traders, policy makers and development organizations, market information is posted on the web and data can be emailed to subscribers on a daily or weekly basis (FOODNET and Radio Works). The Internet is also being used to build up a Regional Agricultural Trade Intelligence Network (RATIN) for maize and beans traders throughout East Africa."

"For many farmers, FOODNET’s market information services mean that, for the first time, they have access to reliable price data. Surveys have shown that farmers consider market information their second highest priority after roads. Farmers appreciate the information because it helps them in their negotiations with traders. Farmers’ associations are also making good use of the information as they can bulk commodities and can more easily grade their produce. Farmers claim that access to market information has raised farm gate prices by between 5–15 % against general prices. Market analysis by the International Food Policy Research Institute has shown that over the past four years the number of markets dominated by farmers’ associations has increased from 4 to 8. This is a very positive trend.

In a recent programme on the BBC World Service, a trader was reported as saying 'It’s not easy to cheat farmers these days because they are getting information about market prices from the radio and some have access to a mobile phone. Things are changing'."

Click here for the full article online.