SMS tackles farmer literacy in Niger

by kiwanja

In this, the sixteenth in our series of FrontlineSMS guest posts, Joshua Haynes – a Masters student at The Fletcher School at Tufts University – describes their application of the software to help improve the lives of farmers in Niger, West Africa

Projet Alphabétisation de Base par Cellulaire (ABC), conceived of and spearheaded by FrontlineSMS’s newest Advisory Board member Jenny Aker, uses mobile phones as tools to aid in adult literacy acquisition in rural Niger. This project is funded by UC Davis, Oxford University, Tufts University and Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and housed at and managed by CRS/Niger.

Adult literacy in rural areas faces an inherent problem. In Niger, for example, there are no novels, newspapers or journals in native languages like Hausa or Zarma. The 20% of Nigériens who are literate are literate in French. The vast majority of rural villagers have struggled to maintain their livelihoods since time immemorial without ever knowing how to read a single word. What’s the point of literacy if there is no need for written materials?

Mamadou Issoufou, like 80% of people who live in rural areas, has access to a couple of different weekly markets where he can buy and sell his millet. One market, Dogon Kirya, is 11 kilometers away and the other, Doubélma, is 15 kilometers away. As Dogon Kirya is closer, he usually travels there, but he knows that sometimes he can get a better price when he goes to Doubélma. If a fellow villager who traveled to Doubélma the previous week indicates that prices were better there than in Dogon Kirya, then Mamadou might decide to go the extra four kilometers, but he’s not sure he’ll get the same prices this week, too. He leaves it up to chance.

On Wednesdays, the Service d’Information sur les Marchés Agricoles (SIMA) sends radio broadcasts on the prices of the most important staples like millet and sorghum for the largest markets in the country. Unfortunately, Mamadou, like most rural farmers, doesn’t have access to the broadcast, and if he did, his two main markets aren’t large enough to be covered by SIMA. Even if they were large enough, Dogon Kirya’s market is held on Tuesdays, so any information from the radio would be six days old.

Farmer, Niger. Photo courtesy Joshua Haynes

If Mamadou had access to some sort of real-time, demand-driven information, he could make better choices on where to buy and sell his goods. The mobile phone is a perfect device for transmitting information, but even though Mamadou may have access to a phone, he can’t read. The point of literacy in rural areas is increase access to information, and this is where FrontlineSMS plays an important role.

This past summer, between my first and second year as a graduate student at The Fletcher School at Tufts University, I was fortunate to work with Jenny, the amazing staff at CRS and SIMA, including Djibou Alzouma, Aïchatou Bety, Sadou Djibrilla, Scott Isbrandt and Ousseïni Sountalma, to develop a system called IMAC – Information sur les Marchés Agricoles par Cellulaire. IMAC – pronounce ‘ee-mak’ – allows users to query for farmgate and market prices of agriculture products in a number of markets in four languages. It is built to work as one of the Projet ABC components, but can be used in areas with higher literacy levels.

Mobile training, Niger. Photo courtesy Joshua Haynes

In addition to the querying functionality, we added the ability for SIMA-trained CRS agents to update the crop prices by sending IMAC a specially formatted SMS. The prices are quickly checked for errors in Niamey, the capital, and then are live for all to use. Before, it could take up to three weeks for market prices to get recorded, go through a number of different administrative stages and finally end up in the database in the capital, but now it takes a matter of seconds before the data can be accessed.

Although the data is stored and updated in the database, FrontlineSMS is the primary access point which captures the message, sends it to the database for processing, waits eagerly for the response, and speedily sends the response to the waiting villager. By exploiting FrontlineSMS’ HTMLRequest functionality, we were able to access a backend system and turn FrontlineSMS into a demand-driven automatic information dissemination tool.

I was fortunate to return to Niger in October (2009) to not only see how well the system was still working – a big relief for developers – but to be surprised by the number of new markets and products that had been added to the system. Thanks to FrontlineSMS, CRS and SIMA, these additional markets will allow even more villagers, once at least semi-literate, to obtain information that will better help them make more informed decisions about their economic resources.

Joshua Haynes
Candidate, Masters of International Business, 2010
The Fletcher School
Tufts University
http://fletcher.tufts.edu

64 comments

1 Joshua Haynes { 11.30.09 at 1:44 pm }: SMS tackles farmer literacy in Niger | @FrontlineSMS, Kiwanja.net http://bit.ly/4p1oOn
2 Patrick Meier { 11.30.09 at 1:48 pm }: SMS tackles farmer literacy in Niger | @FrontlineSMS, Kiwanja.net http://bit.ly/4p1oOn (via @joshuahaynes)
3 georg_neu { 11.30.09 at 1:57 pm }: patrickmeier

SMS tackles farmer literacy in Niger @FrontlineSMS, Kiwanja.net http://bit.ly/4p1oOn (via @patrickmeier via @joshuahaynes)
4 changefeed { 11.30.09 at 2:02 pm }: ->@kiwanja: SMS tackles farmer literacy in Niger http://bit.ly/8meIXL
5 FrontlineSMS o/ { 11.30.09 at 2:25 pm }: "SMS tackles farmer literacy in Niger", a \o/ project by The Fletcher School at Tufts University. http://is.gd/57M08
6 Andre Blackman { 11.30.09 at 2:28 pm }: RT @frontlinesms: "SMS tackles farmer literacy in Niger", a \o/ project at Tufts University. http://is.gd/57M08 [heads up @trackernews]
7 Amy Rubino { 11.30.09 at 2:29 pm }: @CatholicRelief, @FrontlineSMS and others partner to use SMS to tackle farmer literacy in Niger http://bit.ly/4p1oOn (via @joshuahaynes)
8 tides cepes { 11.30.09 at 2:57 pm }: RT @frontlinesms: "SMS tackles farmer literacy in Niger", a \o/ project by The Fletcher School at Tufts University. http://is.gd/57M08
9 Payson Learning Lab { 11.30.09 at 3:09 pm }: RT @frontlinesms: "SMS tackles farmer literacy in Niger", a \o/ project by The Fletcher School at Tufts University. http://is.gd/57M08
10 Elisheba Muturi { 11.30.09 at 3:45 pm }: RT @frontlinesms: "SMS tackles farmer literacy in Niger", a project at Tufts University. http://is.gd/57M08 [heads up @trackernews]
11 Ransom Publishing { 11.30.09 at 3:57 pm }: RT @frontlinesms: "SMS tackles farmer literacy in Niger", a project at Tufts University. http://is.gd/57M08 [heads up @trackernews]
12 James Brearly { 11.30.09 at 4:12 pm }: Congratulations to everyone involved in this. Nice intersection of literacy and agriculture, and another good use of Frontline SMS in this field.
13 chrissiy { 11.30.09 at 4:14 pm }: RT @patrickmeier: SMS tackles farmer literacy in Niger | @FrontlineSMS, Kiwanja.net http://bit.ly/4p1oOn (via @joshuahaynes)
14 Ken Banks { 11.30.09 at 4:23 pm }: Interesting project by The Fletcher School at Tufts University. "SMS tackles farmer literacy in Niger". http://is.gd/57M08
15 thecaro { 11.30.09 at 4:27 pm }: uh oh, i thought that i had decided on a final list for grad schools…. re-add fletcher to the mix? http://is.gd/57M08
16 Kara Pecknold { 11.30.09 at 4:29 pm }: RT @kiwanja: Interesting project by The Fletcher School at Tufts University. "SMS tackles farmer literacy in Niger". http://is.gd/57M08
17 Molly Mattessich { 11.30.09 at 4:38 pm }: RT @kiwanja: Interesting project by The Fletcher School at Tufts University "SMS tackles farmer literacy in Niger" http://is.gd/57M08
18 Heather LaGarde { 11.30.09 at 4:42 pm }: RT @mindofandre: RT @frontlinesms: "SMS tackles farmer literacy in Niger", a \o/ project at Tufts University. http://is.gd/57M08
19 Manmeet Mehta { 11.30.09 at 4:43 pm }: RT @kiwanja: Interesting project by The Fletcher School at Tufts University. "SMS tackles farmer literacy in Niger". http://is.gd/57M08
20 Craig Kiebler { 11.30.09 at 5:03 pm }: RT @kiwanja: Interesting project by The Fletcher School at Tufts University "SMS tackles farmer literacy in Niger" http://is.gd/57M08
21 luishernando { 11.30.09 at 5:10 pm }: RT @kiwanja: Interesting project by The Fletcher School at Tufts University. "SMS tackles farmer literacy in Niger". http://is.gd/57M08
22 Ocha Colombia { 11.30.09 at 5:10 pm }: RT @kiwanja: Interesting project by The Fletcher School at Tufts University. "SMS tackles farmer literacy in Niger". http://is.gd/57M08
23 Matt Gyory { 11.30.09 at 5:23 pm }: RT @kiwanja: Interesting project by The Fletcher School at Tufts University. "SMS tackles farmer literacy in Niger". http://is.gd/57M08
24 chrissiy { 11.30.09 at 6:08 pm }: RT @kiwanja: Interesting project by @Fletcher School at Tufts University. "SMS tackles farmer literacy in Niger". http://is.gd/57M08
25 Marco Puccia { 11.30.09 at 6:26 pm }: Interesting project by The Fletcher School at Tufts University. "SMS tackles farmer literacy in Niger". http://is.gd/57M08 (via @kiwanja)
26 Eugenia Lee { 11.30.09 at 7:14 pm }: Tufts <3! RT @kiwanja Interesting project by Fletcher School at Tufts University. "SMS tackles farmer literacy in Niger". http://is.gd/57M08
27 Allison Hornery { 11.30.09 at 10:06 pm }: RT @kiwanja: Interesting project by The Fletcher School at Tufts University. "SMS tackles farmer literacy in Niger". http://is.gd/57M08
28 iPayStation { 11.30.09 at 10:19 pm }: RT @kiwanja: Interesting project by The Fletcher School at Tufts University. "SMS tackles farmer literacy in Niger". http://is.gd/57M08
29 Jeremiah Fellows { 11.30.09 at 10:26 pm }: RT @kiwanja: Interesting project by The Fletcher School at Tufts University. "SMS tackles farmer literacy in Niger". http://is.gd/57M08
30 topsy top20k en { 11.30.09 at 10:26 pm }: SMS tackles farmer literacy in Niger | @FrontlineSMS, Kiwanja.net http://bit.ly/4p1oOn
31 TheMasawa { 12.01.09 at 4:00 am }: RT @kiwanja: Interesting project by The @FletcherSchool at @TuftsUniversity. "SMS tackles farmer literacy in Niger". http://is.gd/57M08
32 Joshua Haynes { 12.01.09 at 4:00 am }: RT @kiwanja: Interesting project by The @FletcherSchool at @TuftsUniversity. "SMS tackles farmer literacy in Niger". http://is.gd/57M08
33 paconmiller { 12.01.09 at 4:31 am }: RT @mollymali: RT @kiwanja: Interesting project by The Fletcher School at Tufts "SMS tackles farmer literacy in Niger" http://is.gd/57M08
34 IPDI » Blog Archive » What we’re geeking on today { 12.01.09 at 4:24 pm }: [...] SMS Tackles Farmer Illiteracy in Niger – Projet Alphabétisation de Base par Cellulaire (ABC), conceived of and spearheaded by FrontlineSMS’s newest Advisory Board member Jenny Aker, uses mobile phones as tools to aid in adult literacy acquisition in rural Niger. This project is funded by UC Davis, Oxford University, Tufts University and Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and housed at and managed by CRS/Niger. [...]
35 kiwanja { 12.01.09 at 8:05 pm }: Thanks for all the positive comments, links and tweets! Look out for another agriculture-related FrontlineSMS Guest Post in the coming weeks from the FAO in Aceh. \o/
36 AbigailTemby { 12.17.09 at 3:40 am }: SMS tackles farmer literacy in Niger http://is.gd/57M08
37 Josep Maria Miró { 12.29.09 at 2:27 pm }: SMS tackles farmer literacy in Niger http://bit.ly/7IWbn0
38 Camfed UK { 02.07.10 at 5:00 pm }: New mobile technology helps farmers in Niger. http://ow.ly/14qJl
39 Camfed { 02.07.10 at 5:00 pm }: New mobile technology helps farmers in Niger. http://ow.ly/10kIO
40 Cristina Costa { 02.07.10 at 5:00 pm }: RT @CamfedUK: New mobile technology helps farmers in Niger. http://ow.ly/14qJl
41 Jane { 02.07.10 at 5:03 pm }: RT @Camfed: New mobile technology helps farmers in Niger. http://ow.ly/10kIO
42 Mary Chant { 02.07.10 at 5:06 pm }: RT @Camfed: New mobile technology helps farmers in Niger. http://ow.ly/10kIO
43 María Arnal { 02.07.10 at 5:06 pm }: RT @Camfed: New mobile technology helps farmers in Niger. http://ow.ly/10kIO
44 Daniel Jaszczak { 02.07.10 at 5:07 pm }: RT @Camfed New mobile technology helps farmers in Niger. http://ow.ly/10kIO
45 Christina Merl { 02.07.10 at 5:07 pm }: RT @CamfedUK: New mobile technology helps farmers in Niger. http://ow.ly/14qJl
46 Pascal GIBERT { 02.07.10 at 5:08 pm }: #Niger: New mobile technology helps farmers in Niger. http://bit.ly/aHxIKj #Afric #News @Camfed @GibertPascal
47 Anthony Giannoumis { 02.07.10 at 5:10 pm }: RT @Camfed: New mobile technology helps farmers in Niger. http://ow.ly/10kIO
48 Robleh Ali { 02.07.10 at 5:12 pm }: RT @Camfed: New mobile technology helps farmers in Niger. http://ow.ly/10kIO
49 Harold Fricker { 02.07.10 at 5:19 pm }: RT @virtualewit: SMS tackles farmer literacy in Niger http://is.gd/57M08
50 Hans Zomer { 02.07.10 at 5:40 pm }: @marklittlenews New mobile technology helps farmers in Niger. http://ow.ly/10kIO
51 Kemi Jimoh { 02.07.10 at 6:15 pm }: RT @Camfed New mobile technology helps farmers in Niger. http://ow.ly/10kIO
52 Uma V Chandru { 02.07.10 at 6:20 pm }: SMS tackles farmer literacy in Niger http://is.gd/57M08
53 DjAfrican { 02.07.10 at 6:24 pm }: RT @Camfed: New mobile technology helps farmers in Niger. http://ow.ly/10kIO
54 Mimi Poinsett { 02.07.10 at 6:32 pm }: RT @Camfed: New mobile technology helps farmers in Niger. http://ow.ly/10kIO
55 savantemeritus { 02.07.10 at 6:37 pm }: Putting tech to good use! RT @CamfedUK: New mobile technology helps farmers in Niger. http://ow.ly/14qJl
56 Kate Sim { 02.07.10 at 6:53 pm }: RT @Camfed: New mobile technology helps farmers in Niger. http://ow.ly/10kIO
57 Jan Moreland { 02.07.10 at 6:55 pm }: RT @misetak: RT @Camfed: New mobile technology helps farmers in Niger. http://ow.ly/10kIO
58 m.c.fox { 02.07.10 at 11:12 pm }: RT @CamfedUK: New mobile technology helps farmers in Niger. http://ow.ly/14qJl
59 Iris { 02.08.10 at 4:06 pm }: RT @Camfed: New mobile technology helps farmers in Niger. http://ow.ly/10kIO
60 Stephen & Erica @ DI { 02.12.10 at 8:35 pm }: RT @Camfed: New mobile technology helps farmers in Niger. http://bit.ly/bpuXcZ
61 ADRA International { 08.18.11 at 7:25 pm }: Great idea! Using SMS to tackle farmer illiteracy, and increase farmer profits in Niger. http://t.co/LUUIZAq
62 NAD Youth Ministries { 08.19.11 at 9:30 am }: Great idea! Using SMS to tackle farmer illiteracy, and increase farmer profits in Niger. http://t.co/LUUIZAq
63 Agnes Lesage-Possolo { 01.31.12 at 10:07 am }: SMS tackles farmer literacy in Niger | Kiwanja http://t.co/9sWX90Ew #m4d #e-agriculture
64 Agnes Lesage-Possolo { 01.31.12 at 7:50 pm }: SMS tackles farmer literacy in Niger | Kiwanja?net http://t.co/9sWX90Ew #e-agriculture