Reaching Out and Listening to Farmers: The case of NAIS Internet Based SMS Platform.

Access to ICTs plays a vital role in the life of a farmer as it gives the farmers a chance to improve their incomes and increase food security. Through the use of various ICT tools such as cell phones, e mails, and others, farmers can increase their income from the sale of their produce due to timely access to market information. ICTs have also helped farmers to make choices on what, where and when to sale their produce. In addition, farmer’s networking within and outside their immediate groups can improve and farmers by themselves can also create new market channels using various ICTs. The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock through the National Agricultural Information Services (NAIS) has launched a Short Messaging System (SMS) for the farmers. The Department of NAIS is mandated to provide timely agricultural information to the farming community through various media such as radio, television and newspapers. However, with the proliferation of the mobile phone which has certainly been one of the most spectacular technological developments in the recent years, it has become imperative that the Department innovates ways to help farmers become part of the growing global mobile communication market. With financial assistance from the International Institute for Communication and Development (IICD), the Department in November 2011, launched the SMS platform through which farmers can access timely agricultural information and receive immediate feedback on their pressing agricultural related problems. How the system works. In the message pad of the mobile phone, farmers simply type NAIS, language code leave space, ask a question and send to 3009. Apart from English, farmers can use the service in all the seven major local languages namely Bemba, Nyanja, Lozi, Tonga, Kaonde, Luvale and Lunda. The language codes are EN for English, BE for Bemba, KA for Kaonde, LU for Lunda, LV for Luvale, NY for Nyanja, LO for Lozi and TO for Tonga. Codes can be sent either in capital letters or small letters. The system is currently available only to Airtel subscribers; however, the system will be available to all networks in due course. Each SMS costs K900.00 Advantages of SMS Platform • The SMS platform can play a pivotal role in assisting the farming community accesses relevant, timely and accurate agricultural information from experts who will offer timely solutions. • Farmers can decide where it is profitable for them to sell their produce; • Farmers can access information on how to control diseases and pests faster; • Availability of information on climate change issues such as droughts, floods, etc; • Response from farmers can assist in coming up with new topics for radio broadcasts; • Reduced costs of sending feedback forms from farmer listening groups; • Involvement of youths in ICTS can be enhanced thus encouraging them to see agriculture as a viable industry that can reduce poverty and provide employment; • Improving on productivity at household level and enhancing income levels; • It’s cheaper and reduces on time; It is hoped that this SMS platform will ease the communication gap between farmers and experts to improve on Zambia’s agricultural productivity. “Investment in agricultural ICTs, is investment in the country’s economy”.