HakiPensheni: When Tigo pioneers into mobile farming technology

By Correspondent

Vice President Ghalib Bilal (R) presents an award to the Tigo Manager for Lindi Zone, Daniel Mainoya when his company emerged the first winner in the Communications institution.

The dissemination of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in developing countries like Tanzania provides much opportunity to transfer knowledge and information to the public.

For years mobile phone coverage has been spread fast in Asian, African and Latin-American countries. It was indicated that more than sixty percent of the population of sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and Latin America had access to mobile phones coverage in 2009.

Mobile phones have provided new approach to farmers to make tentative decisions much more easily than before. Use of mobile phones leads to greater social cohesion and improved social relationships among farmers and business community.

In a wake to ensure that farmers in the country earn and get benefit on what they produce, Tigo Tanzania has pioneered a mobile farming technology that enables farmers to know commodity market prices, availability of buyers and sellers as well as weather forecast information.

Speaking recently during a joint press conference with Tanzania Agricultural Society (TASO) in Lindi, Tigo’s Corporate Communications Manager, John Wanyancha, said the company has also co-sponsored the annual Nanenane exhibitions as a sign of supporting farmers in the country to improve their living standards through the use of modern farming techniques.

“Almost 80 per cent of our populations carry out agriculture as an economic activity, therefore farmers have a very significant contribution to our society,” Wanyancha said.

He said by providing farmers with current market information will enable rural farmers become knowledgeable on agricultural issues, make informative decisions, and eventually sell their crops at reasonable prices. And at the end see greater returns, which will automatically change their living standards.

At his part, Tigo’s Head of Digital Lifestyle, Yaya Ndjore called upon all farmers to use the company’s mobile farming solution known as ‘Tigo Kilimo’ as a means to get useful information that can help them improve their yields, get the best of market information and prices for their crops and also allows farmers to meet buyers and sellers of their crops.

According to Ndjore, Tigo customers can access the farming product through a free of charge ‘sms’ service by dialing *148*14# where they will access the latest market prices, weather forecasts, and better cultivating methods for crops such as cashew nuts, maize, sweet potatoes, among others.

“Farmers have a great opportunity to enjoy our service not only because our TigoKilimo service can reach any registered customer through our wide established network but also because a farmer does not have to pay for anything to register and access this service, including the information menu itself,” said Ndjore.

He said in the past, farmers who had no access to mobile phones were facing many problems in selling their produce and access market information compared to farmers who use phones.

In the context of the Malaysia most of farmers are facing problems to link with agricultural experts due to lack of communication.

Ndjore also said in a bid to ensure Lindi farmers continue improving their farming systems through proper information, Tigo Tanzania will erect two new mobile towers with high capacity of 3g in the region this year.

“We all know well that Lindi Region and its surrounding areas are growing very fast nowadays, that’s why we have decided to improve the communication for them.

A cashewnut farmer Khalid Namkulala from Lindi commended Tigo for enabling them to get the needed information regarding their agriculture.

Also a farmer from Iringa rural Justin Lwenga, told this paper that he managed to secure markets for his produce and brought them to Dar es Salaam markets because of the information he got through mobile phones, Tigo in particular.

“I am very happy for various private organizations, which have pioneered to help farmers by providing us with useful agricultural information,” he revealed.

TASO’s Chairman, Engelbery Moyo, commended and welcomed Tigo’s new technology saying it would greatly help farmers from applying old farming methods to using modern methods and technologies and hence improve their lives.

“I know that the new services in the mobile phones could help farmers as well as traders to sell their products while are still fresh.”

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN