500 Farmers gets sponsorship

MTN-ESOKO (Agric)
Story:Alice Aryeetey, Ada
Five hundred farmers in the country have received sponsorship from MTN in partnership with Esoko, to be trained on the use and benefits of the Esoko Information Product.
The Esoko Information Product is a platform which provides current market data via Short Messaging Service (SMS) and the web to stakeholders within the agriculture and trade sectors in developing countries.
Esoko is a technology-based Market Information System (MIS) classified as agricultural informatics or e-agriculture. It provides agricultural stakeholders like farmers and traders with information such as prices, and a platform for advertising, and negotiating (buy/sell) offers, and facilitates direct marketing campaigns using SMS.
The initiative, dubbed MTN farmerfirst, would provide a unique opportunity and platform for farmers and agricultural enterprises to have vital information on how much to sell and where to sell their produce, to be able to conduct their business efficiently, via SMS.
The 500 farmers were selected from the Dangbe East, Samsam Odumase (Ga West) and Akuapim South farming Districts, and they would enjoy free SMS subscription to Esoko’s market information for one year.
The farmerfirst initiative is aimed at giving all farmers across the country the opportunity to properly market their harvest to a greater buyer audience.
Access to ready and up to date information, proper storage, transportation of agricultural produce to market centres, as well as getting competitive prices for the products have been major challenges that farmers face in the country.
The farm produce, as a result of these problems do not get onto the market in a good state for human consumption, and sometimes contributes to the loss of the farmers.
At the launch of the project in Ada-Kasseh in the Greater Accra Region yesterday (Wednesday), the Corporate Services Executive (CSE) of MTN, Mrs Cynthia Lumor, said MTN partnered with Esoko to address these problems to help increase productivity in the agriculture sector, which would in turn boost the economy and lead to development.
She was optimistic that the price and advertising information would avoid post-harvest losses;thereby improving their lot.
Customers or farmers can request for information such as Price alerts, Bids and Offers, News and Advisories information through the short code 1900 at a cost of 8 pesewas. Other services available on the platform include Polls, Inventory counts, and transport information.
According to the Deputy  Minister for Local Government and Rural development, Mr Aquinas Quansah, the initiative was a laudable one since it would assist farmers in making beneficial economic decisions and help to reduce the amount of time they spend commuting to different markets to inquire about the price of their products.
“If this technology is fully embraced, the total life cycle of food production and distribution will become more efficient”, he added.
Mr Quansah noted that the government would assist the farmer in maximising the full benefits due him on his farming activities.