Maravi

Honey added to SMS market information system of ZNFU

Honey added to SMS market information system of ZNFU
By Joan Chirwa
Monday September 10, 2007 [04:00]

LOCALLY produced honey has now been added to the short message service (SMS) market information system of the Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU). This means honey producers in the country can now link themselves to a number of buyers across the country by sending a message on their mobile phones to enquire about the prevailing prices on the local market.

Zambia Honey Council national coordinator Bill Kalaluka said the inclusion of honey on the ZNFU SMS market information system would offer producers a chance to search for buyers offering better prices on the market.

“The Zambia Honey Council is pleased to announce that bee-keepers can now access current honey prices by named buyer via the Zambia National Farmers Union’s 4455 SMS Market Information Service,” Kalaluka said. “This development will help bee-keepers to put more money in their pockets.”

Using a Celtel phone, honey producers could simply send a message to 4455, after which, a reply would be sent stipulating current prices by a named buyer in the form of a buyer code.

“There are ten buyers currently quoting honey prices on the service. The ZNFU 4455 SMS Market Information Service will help traders and processors to reduce their transport costs by putting them in touch with bee-keepers who have honey for sale. Similarly, bee-keepers will benefit by getting the best prices available in the market,” Kalaluka said.

“The Honey Council appreciates the support it is receiving from the Small Holder Enterprise and Marketing Programme Agribusiness Development Component (SHEMP-ADC) and ZNFU. This has made the Honey Council provide tangible commercial benefits to its membership, both bee-keepers and traders or processors.”

ZNFU, with the help of SHEMP-ADC developed the cellphone-based commodity marketing information system to help smallholder farmers to access better markets.

The two institutions said the project sought to help reverse the exploitation of smallholder farmers by availing them details of who was offering the best prices for their commodities.

Labels: HONEY, ZNFU

posted by MrK @ 3:42 AM