A farmer prunes a coffee plant in Nyeri. The telco yesterday said it is
channelling a portion of its annual Sh32 billion capital expenditure to
improve Internet access in rural areas. FILE PHOTO | JOSEPH KANYI |
NATION MEDIA GROUP
Telecommunications
giant Safaricom is betting on farmers in rural areas to generate
traffic on its Internet infrastructure whose upgrade is focused on
connecting them to ease their access to markets.
The
telco yesterday said it is channelling a portion of its annual Sh32
billion capital expenditure to improve Internet access in the rural
areas with an aim of attaining 80 per cent 3G mobile network coverage
across the country.
The telco has already earmarked
23,000 public primary schools for internet connection that are expected
to act as catalyst for connecting rural homes and businesses.
Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore made the announcement at the ongoing Africa Green Revolution forum.
“Such
efforts are critical in advancing an agricultural renaissance as it
will allow the building of Internet platforms that can foster research
and farm-to-market linkages for contemporary farmers,” said Mr
Collymore, adding that access to the Internet and mobile value added
services including mobile banking solutions, will promote market access
as farmers can seize local and international opportunities.
He
said there is need for the private sector to develop and incorporate
innovations that boost agricultural production to guarantee food
security and boost the agriculture sector by setting aside resources for
research and innovation.
“Solving the future
challenge of producing more with less in a more sustainable manner is
not mission impossible. The private sector can lead from the front by
setting aside more resources for research and innovation. For Africa to
become the world’s bread basket, we must look at how to create
agribusiness.”
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