ICT Africa 2008

Presentation of the Results of Field Studies carried out in the Presentation of the Results of Field Studies carried out in the Localities of Limbe , Buea and Muyuka in Cameroon.Localities of Limbe , Buea and Muyuka in Cameroon.

Prepared By:Prepared By:

Stephen Tabi Eno-TambeStephen Tabi Eno-TambeFreelance Translator /ResearcherFreelance Translator /Researcher

&&Harry Agbor TambeHarry Agbor Tambe

Swedish Graduate Business School, OrebroSwedish Graduate Business School, Orebro

ICT AFRICA CONFERENCE 2008 YAOUNDE 19-21 DECEMBERICT AFRICA CONFERENCE 2008 YAOUNDE 19-21 DECEMBER

STEPHEN TABI ENO-TAMBE & HARRY AGBOR TAMBESTEPHEN TABI ENO-TAMBE & HARRY AGBOR TAMBE

Theme:

“Can Education Through SMS Improve Farmers’ Situation and Promote Sustainable Farming Practices?”

Agenda :Agenda :

• General IntroductionGeneral Introduction

• Why invest on Agriculture?Why invest on Agriculture?

• Role of SCMB in the Past DecadesRole of SCMB in the Past Decades

• Presentation of the ProblemPresentation of the Problem

• Purpose of the studyPurpose of the study

• Motivation and Study DesignMotivation and Study Design

• ResultsResults

• ConclusionConclusion


WHY INVEST IN AGRICULTURE ?WHY INVEST IN AGRICULTURE ?

STEPHEN TABI ENO-TAMBE & STEPHEN TABI ENO-TAMBE & HARRY AGBOR TAMBEHARRY AGBOR TAMBE

• EmploymentEmployment DemographicsDemographics

• The Population of Cameroon is about 18.000.000The Population of Cameroon is about 18.000.000• 70% of this population practice agriculture70% of this population practice agriculture• 43% of country’s GNP proceeds come from agriculture43% of country’s GNP proceeds come from agriculture

• Limbe , Buea & Muyuka combined have have a Limbe , Buea & Muyuka combined have have a population of over 300.000 personspopulation of over 300.000 persons

• The majority if these populations practice agriculture The majority if these populations practice agriculture for a living & supply products to surrounding citiesfor a living & supply products to surrounding cities

How did the state provide support to Farmers in The Past?How did the state provide support to Farmers in The Past?

STEPHEN TABI-ENO TAMBE &HARRY AGBOR TAMBESTEPHEN TABI-ENO TAMBE &HARRY AGBOR TAMBE

• Through the Southern Cameroons Marketing Board (SCMB) which provided agric information to farmers.

2. Through MINAGRI which regulated agricultural activities

Role of the Southern Cameroons Marketing BoardRole of the Southern Cameroons Marketing Board

• The SCMB trained farmers on early pest detection, pest The SCMB trained farmers on early pest detection, pest management and pest control methods.management and pest control methods.

• Strategically SCMB advised on the best periods to plant, Strategically SCMB advised on the best periods to plant, spray and rotate crops for optimum output.spray and rotate crops for optimum output.

• Financially SCMB advised about access to credits and Financially SCMB advised about access to credits and procedures to obtain them.procedures to obtain them.

• The SCMB provided valuable information and Markets for The SCMB provided valuable information and Markets for Farmers’ Products.Farmers’ Products.


Presentation of the Problem.Presentation of the Problem.

Why did the Farming Institution suffer a setback?Why did the Farming Institution suffer a setback?

• Gross embezzlement of SCMB reserve fundsGross embezzlement of SCMB reserve funds

• A bankrupt SCMB could no more support farmersA bankrupt SCMB could no more support farmers

Direct Impact on FarmersDirect Impact on Farmers

• No more trainingsNo more trainings

• No more information on MarketsNo more information on Markets

• No more advice on new farming practicesNo more advice on new farming practices

• No more credit facilities to acquire agric inputsNo more credit facilities to acquire agric inputs


Consequences of the Fall of the SCMBConsequences of the Fall of the SCMB

• Farmers began carrying out poor farming Farmers began carrying out poor farming practices practices

• In their ignorance they destroyed the In their ignorance they destroyed the ecosystemsecosystems

• They could not detect or control new pests early They could not detect or control new pests early enough to save their investment.enough to save their investment.

• Their harvests were lean and they became poorTheir harvests were lean and they became poor

• They worked long hours but remained PoorThey worked long hours but remained Poor


What is the situation now?What is the situation now?

• Farmers still need information to tackle the problems of Farmers still need information to tackle the problems of pest, market outlets and good farming practices.pest, market outlets and good farming practices.

• The Mechanisms in place do not assure the provision of The Mechanisms in place do not assure the provision of such services in a manner that is fast and efficient.such services in a manner that is fast and efficient.


Purpose of This StudyPurpose of This Study

To investigate if SMS Education is a better To investigate if SMS Education is a better replacement for TV, radio and Print Media as replacement for TV, radio and Print Media as informative tools to empower Farmersinformative tools to empower Farmers


MotivationMotivation

• The demographic and statistical information presented The demographic and statistical information presented for Limbe, Buea and Muyuka is important.for Limbe, Buea and Muyuka is important.

• Farmers’ problem is real & should be attended to before Farmers’ problem is real & should be attended to before it degenerates into chaos. it degenerates into chaos.

• Farmers in one region dump produce in markets while Farmers in one region dump produce in markets while consumers in other regions experience scarcity & consumers in other regions experience scarcity & starvation .starvation .

• Getting farmers to where there is demand for their Getting farmers to where there is demand for their produce requires information which they lack NOWproduce requires information which they lack NOW


Study DesignStudy Design

Survey: pre-test questions & post-test questionsSurvey: pre-test questions & post-test questionsUsing the PICO modelUsing the PICO model

PICO= PICO= “Problem, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome”“Problem, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome”

Meeting with farmersMeeting with farmersPre-test to determine information needs of FarmersPre-test to determine information needs of Farmers

SMS sent out with messages directed to meet the needs SMS sent out with messages directed to meet the needs

Post-test questions to determine :Post-test questions to determine :1) Effectiveness of SMS to deliver information1) Effectiveness of SMS to deliver information2) Usability of SMS 2) Usability of SMS

STEPHEN TABI ENO-TAMBE &HARRY AGBOR TAMBESTEPHEN TABI ENO-TAMBE &HARRY AGBOR TAMBE

ResultsResults : : Observations : Reception of Information Before InterventionObservations : Reception of Information Before Intervention

Very few farmers received supportive information after SCMB stopped functioningVery few farmers received supportive information after SCMB stopped functioning

AT THIS STAGE FARMERS ARE IGNORANT BECAUSE THEY DO NOT RECEIVE ANY AT THIS STAGE FARMERS ARE IGNORANT BECAUSE THEY DO NOT RECEIVE ANY INFORMATIONINFORMATION


PrQ3. On how often they receive information on prices and fertilizers

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Never

Rarely

Neutral

Sometimes

Always

Frequency (in number of respondents)

Consequences: They suffer pest attacks they cannot controlConsequences: They suffer pest attacks they cannot control

FARMERS DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS DESTRUCTION TO THEIR FARMERS DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS DESTRUCTION TO THEIR CROPSCROPS

STEPHEN TABI ENO –TAMBE & HARRY AGBOR TAMBESTEPHEN TABI ENO –TAMBE & HARRY AGBOR TAMBE

Observations : Responses on whether the SMS received would have benefited them Observations : Responses on whether the SMS received would have benefited them technically and economicallytechnically and economically

UPWARDS OF 92% RESPONDED SMS WILL BE USEFUL .NONE OF THE RESPONDENTS UPWARDS OF 92% RESPONDED SMS WILL BE USEFUL .NONE OF THE RESPONDENTS DISAGREEDDISAGREED


PQ3. On whether these SMS would have benefitted them technically and economically

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly Agree

Res

po

nse

cat

ego

ries

Response Frequency

Overall Impression of SMS ChannelOverall Impression of SMS Channel

Farmers agree they learnt more during this intervention compared to Farmers agree they learnt more during this intervention compared to information received from Radio, Tv and Newspapersinformation received from Radio, Tv and Newspapers

Farmers are willing to pay for this service to enable continuityFarmers are willing to pay for this service to enable continuity

Farmers suggested that other important informative services like polio Farmers suggested that other important informative services like polio vaccine administration should be announced through SMS.vaccine administration should be announced through SMS.

Farmers found it easy to use and information arrived to all of them at Farmers found it easy to use and information arrived to all of them at the same timethe same time


CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

• Farmers like the systemFarmers like the system

• They would recommend others to join the SMS information NetworkThey would recommend others to join the SMS information Network

• Farmers desire an NGO to take over the transmission of information through SMSFarmers desire an NGO to take over the transmission of information through SMS

• Information sent through SMS were timely, and trustworthyInformation sent through SMS were timely, and trustworthy

• NGOs expressed their willingness to invest in this project in futureNGOs expressed their willingness to invest in this project in future

• Overall response is one of satisfaction.Overall response is one of satisfaction.

• Thus it is possible to give farmers information that would enable them improve their Thus it is possible to give farmers information that would enable them improve their incomes and carry out sustained agricultureincomes and carry out sustained agriculture


Thank you for Listening!Thank you for Listening!


ICT Africa 2008

Technology

Transcript of ICT Africa 2008