Date post: | 11-May-2015 |
Category: |
Economy & Finance |
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Evaluation of SMS – based system for pests in pilot areas
of Kagera region
Mgenzi S.R. Byabachwezi
ARI Maruku
To test an SMS-based reporting system for pests and diseases in 4 districts - Bukoba, Muleba, Karagwe and Missenyi
- acceptance of SMS-based system among farmers, extension workers
- appropriate management and communication procedures for the SMS-based system, taking into account local context
Pilot project objectives
Participants were selected based on …
resident of particular villageowned mobile phone able to read and writeable to use SMS functionapproachable and respectedfarmer or livestock keeperinterest in the pilot project
Total of 120 people consulted
Included a mix of farmers and extension workers
Participants drawn from 60 villages in 4 districts
Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates of participants villages recorded and then mapped using Geographic Information System (GIS) …
GPS reading in one of the village
Pilot areas for reporting
Muleba training
March 3-11 2008
BXW
Panama
Weevils
Black sigatoka
Nematodes
BXW
Panama
BXW
Weevils
Panama
BXW
Black sigatoka
Nematodes
Weevils
Panama
BXWBXW
Panama
BXW
Weevils
Panama
BXW
Black sigatoka
Weevils
Panama
BXW
Nematodes
Black sigatoka
Weevils
Panama
BXW
Nematodes
Black sigatoka
Weevils
Panama
BXW
March 25-30 2008
Reporters
• Farmers• Extension staff (crops, livestock, NGOs)• Messages came from various destinations• Attracted others not trained
Needs for functional SMS system
1. requirements for reporters – Airtime– Transport– Whether protection– Allowance– Recognition by authority and community
members (introduction done) – FEEDBACK
Needs cont
2. requirements for research– central billing system– Airtime– Facilitation to provide feedback, verification
and advisory activities (transport, per-diems etc)
Way forward
• Needs for central message centers from the providers
• Directing messages to various stakeholders
• Create a data base and mapping of diseases
• Collect SMS for all crops and livestock• Designing early warning system• Make it applicable at National level
Overview
• Generally the system can allow for fast follow up of pests
• Can reveal the stage where there is no action after reporting
• Can help in early warning and prepared for new disease outbreak