Question 2: Market Information - types of information
What types of market information available through mobiles is valued by the producers described in Question 1?
Where possible describe the decisions that are improved by having access to this information, and what types of impacts can be observed.
What decisions are improved, and what types of impacts are observed?
Answer - High impact has been observed in:
a) taking informed decisions on where and when to sell the farm output,
b) feel empowered viz-a-viz the middlemen,
c) taking risk mitigation decisions based on localized weather,
d) being aware of availability of scarce agri inputs and availing relevant subsidies.
I'd be interested in anyone's pointers to actually measuring these impacts -- ideally across a group of farmers but also for individual farmers. I have heard from Esoko in Ghana that they have polled farmers using their services and found over time that these farmers mention b) above -- feel empowered viz-a-ziz middlemen -- that is, are more confident when negotiating prices they will accept.
Judy
From our experience of e-Krishok for last few years, we found that farmers mostly use the info service to protect their crops from pests which could turn into loss. So we found in most cases farmers save their crops from potential loss.
Thanks,
Shahid
Hi all,
This question was addressed through a small study we conducted in Uttarakhand state of india; the study prioritizes the information related needs of farmers. The link is given herewith.
http://www.agricorner.com/a-study-of-prioritisation-of-information-related-needs-of-farmers/
Thanks,
Sapna