Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
Voice of America is funded by the US Federal Government and content it
exclusively produces is in the public domain.
June 26, 2007

For Ugandan Farmers, Agricultural Tips Just a Phone Call Away
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=17F236F:A6F02AD83191E1605A903840DDE3D0589574F7DCC14957C0 Ugandan NGO
updates farmers using cell phones, advises them on best local market
crops In Uganda, a new project is using cell phones to send farmers
valuable farming tips by text message. The scheme is also helping
farmers focus on growing lucrative export crops. The development
experts behind the effort say sharing knowledge between – and among --
farmers will help increase food production and reduce poverty.  From
Kampala, Voice of America English to Africa reporter Peterson Ssendi
tells us thousands of farmers are involved in the project. 

The three-year-old effort is called CELAC, or “Collecting and
Exchanging of Local Agriculture Content.” It’s exclusively funded by a
Dutch NGO, HIVOS. As part of the project, a team of information and
communications experts collects information on improved farming
methods and updates on agricultural commodities – and circulates the
information to farmers through cell phone text messages. Farmers say
the project is helping improve their earnings and food security by
sharing knowledge and also telephone and computer skills. Edam Peter
is a farmer from the northern Ugandan district of Apac.  He says, “We
benefit a lot because we are sharing ideas…and making friends
around. It has done a lot for improving our production.”

Besides sharing knowledge, the CELAC project also encourages farmers
to specialize in new and potentially more lucrative ventures,
including raising livestock.

Farmer Evelyn Ogwang of Apac district in the eastern Uganda says CELAC
officials persuaded her to take a different approach: “They introduced
to us how to keep ducks.  Before… we were farmers, keeping (only)
bees.  Now we have added on keeping ducks.  Before… those middlemen
used to cheat us but now we are getting market information from CELAC…
This year we are going to start group marketing.”

Apac district farmers say that because of improved information on
production and marketing – including ways to eliminate the middle men
-- the market price for ducks went up to $1.43, or about 2500 Ugandan
shillings. Before, middlemen used to buy ducks from the farmers for
only half that price and keep the profits. Now, farmers earn the extra
money.

CELAC is helping Lira District farmer Alobo James to grow cassava, and
to teach other farmers how to grow it. Alobo uses his cell phone to
give out information  and advice:  “They have chosen cassava in Lira
district so I am the coordinator. They are actually helping us in
communication in case there is any problem based on agriculture. Any
problem concerning agriculture in the country, they send for us.  Like
when there was a problem of bird flu they actually sent for us [warned
us].

For those who can not read text messages, CELAC has engaged a number
of farmers to  help teach their neighbors how to read. As a result of
the project, rural farmers have increased their production of cassava,
maize, bananas and ducks. The chairman of CELAC, Vincent Waiswa, says
people are responding positively to sharing information by phone. 

Project coordinator Maria Nakirya says the plan costs about $54,000
dollars, or 100 million Uganda shillings annually, and is expected to
last for the next three years. Now, more than 300 rural farmers are
trained and equipped to teach new farming methods to illiterate
farmers at the village level.





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