eAgriculture Research Network for Africa (eARN): Effectiveness of electronic-based interventions in linking African farmers to markets

Dr. Julius Mangisoni
Dr. Julius Okello 

Antananarivo University, Madagascar
University of Malawi, Malawi
University of Nairobi, Kenya
Makerere University, Uganda
University of Ghana,  Ghana
University of Abomeyi-Calavi,  Benin

Dr. Julius Okello 
Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Nairobi

 jjokello[AT]gmail.com

 

Objectives
The general objective of the project is to study the effectiveness of ICT-based intervention in linking African farmers to markets so as to inform policy decisions by African governments and stakeholders working to improve the livelihood of smallholder farmers. Specific objectives include:
1.    To analyze existing ICT-based initiatives and the environments within which they are applied;
2.    To examine the factors influencing the awareness and adoption of ICT-based market information services;
3.    To assess the effects of participating in ICT-based market information projects on smallholder farmers;
4.    To examine the effect of participation in ICT-based market information service project on the performance of agricultural markets;
5.    To critically analyze the challenges encountered by the ICT-based market information service projects for linking smallholder farmers to markets;
6.    To use the findings to influence ICT policy and practice in each participating country
7.    To enhance collaboration among African researchers and to build research capacity of project partners and young researchers;

More than half the population of Africa lives in extreme poverty, with 75% residing in rural areas and deriving livelihoods directly or indirectly from agriculture. Smallholder farmers typically comprise the majority of the farming community and most produce small marketable surplus and are geographically dispersed, selling and purchasing commodities in rural markets where prices often vary with the crop season. Farmers usually lack information on demand and supply conditions, prices, and quality, which encourages opportunistic behaviour among traders. Consequently, most smallholders face high prices for inputs and low prices for their produce.
 
In response to these problems and in order to spur commercialization of smallholder agriculture, modern information and communication technologies (ICTs), such as mobile telephony and Web-based applications, have been devised and old ones, such as television and FM radio, have been re-designed to facilitate the transfer of market information to farmers. The use of mobile phones to synchronize farm production and export market requirements in Asia has been documented, and mobile telephony-based interventions have been motivated by the rapid penetration of mobile phones in rural Africa.

The rural area residents and smallholder farmers

Modern ICTs ie, Mobile phones, web technologies