Empowering Indian Farmers With Mobile Phone Market Applications

By Nick Aster | July 31st, 2006 View Comments

mobile_phone_app.jpgAzeem Azhar brought to my attention a very interesting project that he’s been working on with Indian farmers that exemplifies the best of leapfrog technology. It’s a system to provide accurate weather forecasts, as well as pricing data for their crops, sent to their mobile phones. The pilot project, detailed in the London Times, is being implemented by Reuters. Among the benefits are better preparedness for monsoon rains as well as better data about where and when to take crops to market. Currently, an astonishing 1/3 of vegetables grown in India fail to reach market before they rot – a result of a myriad of inefficiencies. This sounds like a great business opportunity for eveyone involved, particularily the poor and hungry.

Categorized: Poverty Solutions|

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  • The surface-level economic benefits of internet penetration belie the depth of possibility in rural communities. The vast array of information currently online, coupled with the Open Access educational movements, will ultimately bring all of humanity's collective knowledge to the masses. Since this is the most efficient way for us as a planet to progress, let's find ways to make this happen! Imagine Skyping with third world villagers whose network connections you just funded! http://thesubcontinental.blogspot.com/
  • This is fantastic and the type of opportunity and innovation that I believe is what "sustainability" is all about. We provide "free of charge" advertising to entrepreneurial solutions that meet the need of developing countries. We are young and looking to get the word out. We call the companies that we showcase "Spangy Innovation Partners" (SIPs), so please let the world know we are out there and growing. http://www.spangy.com
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