The mobile-based application is developed by Dar es
Salaam-based application services provider Nuru Infocomm and empowers rural
farmers by collecting market information and disseminating it to them in real
time. Having access to up-to-date commodity prices across a number of major
markets in Tanzania helps the farmers to secure the best possible prices for
their produce. Nuru Infocomm is developing similar applications for
conservation to help conservationists look after Tanzania's natural heritage.Nuru Infocomm also provides SMS applications services on our short code
for Premium SMS as well as develops and deploys applications using
mobile communications technology.
SEACOM has provided funding towards the development and
piloting of a new Swahili and English language application for farmers in
Tanzania. This falls in line with SEACOM's commitment towards fostering the use
of ICT for economic development across Africa.
SEACOM's donation will be used to fund training of farmers
participating in a pilot project in Shinyanga in northern Tanzania, ahead of a
wider rollout of the application across the country. The project to develop the
application also has the support of the Tanzanian Ministry of Industry, Trade
and Marketing and Tanzania Traditional Energy Development Organisation, TATEDO.
Says Anna Kahama-Rupia, managing director at SEACOM Tanzania
Limited, "As an organisation dedicated to helping Africa connect to the
digital economy, we are proud to support this project from Nuru Infocomm. It is
a wonderful initiative that promises to help farmers prosper by giving them
access to valuable and relevant information in real-time. The application shows
just how technology helps to develop and grow rural economies and change
people's lives."
There is an unfortunate dearth of digital content localised
for African needs and languages, she adds. Companies such as Nuru are
addressing this gap in the market by creating applications rich in local
content, designed around the needs of local consumers, and that often provide
support for indigenous languages.
John Kagaruki, COO at Nuru, says that his
company believes that it can begin to introduce rural users to the web via
local applications that are made with their needs in mind. In addition to its
immediate benefits, the mobile application for farmers is just one step towards
making more use of ICT for rural development throughout Tanzania. Nuru has had
a long working relationship with SEACOM, which this initiative builds on, he
adds