Hi Grace and Helene Thanks for the deliberation, i would like to point your interest to yet another project, Infotrade that was launched by FIT Uganda on 17th June 2008, it trying to do that ,currently they are collecting commodities from 15 districts , 3 times a week and publishing twice a week via email , to a total of 2400 email subsibers ( free) . the company has obtain a SMS code 8555 to transmit some of the information via SMS and its has also have it website constructed / designed to accomodate SMS and Web communication that can transmit SMS alert on the best offers placed on the site. the website is underconstruction but you can view some of the developments. FIT Uganda welcomes comments and suggest to make the site user friendly. www.infotradeuganda.com The unique aspect about Infotrade is the their defination of Agricultural Market Information , that enables the users to make interesting market or trading decision. for any tools to be used as channel of communication, one has to have the relevant content to support it conitunity and sustainability.

Are Mobile Phones leading the Way? YES . i think that Mobile phone as tool can do more that voice and data transmission. The Mobile can be become education tool, for the rural communities, what we need to do it to have the rural communities under the usage and then we as developer come up concepts that can enchance its utilisation in society. For example SMS service on the phones can be used a channel for mini lectures to farmers organised over a period of time to allow the farmers discussion back in their the issue forward to them. Secondly, the video aspect of the phone could used in comfirmation of availability of goods and supplies from the farm land.