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Project Record

Objectives:

Strategies that improve the crop-based food security of poor households (through increased availability, improved quality and better access to markets) developed and promoted.

Background:

According to the GoU's Plan for Modernisation of Agriculture (GoU, April 2000), ,... Based on the study by NRI/APSEC, a decentralised, flexible information system bringing on board all the main stakeholders (eg: Local Government, private associations, NGOs, local radio stations, etc) will be adopted for implementation under PMA. Government (central and local), donors and NGOs have to acknowledge the importance of information and make the necessary resources available particularly in regard to provide information to poor farmers where such services may be viewed as public good. The system will be demand driven and reacting to the needs of the target population and starting with a needs assessment of the services. Local radios could be one of the principle means of disseminating such information. ...., As such the PMA acknowledges the importance of information and adequate measures to provide it. It is intended to use this framework for the project 'Decentralised Market Information Service in Lira District'. The 1998/99 World Development Report (World Bank 1999, P149), states that ,A sound national knowledge strategy requires that governments seek ways to improve information flows that make a market economy function better ,. In particular, agrarian based economies such as Uganda depend on sound agricultural market information services, if the aim is to modernise agriculture (ie: move from subsistence agriculture towards commercial production). Given the informational imperfections in sub-Saharan agricultural markets, the need for market information is unquestionable. Barriers to market access and information flows may be due to structural and behavioural factors. ,Up-to-date, or current, market information enables farmers to negotiate with traders from a position of greater strength. It also facilitates spatial distribution of products from rural areas to towns and between markets. Well-analysed historical market information enables farmers to make planting decisions, including those related to new crops. It also permits traders [and producers] to make better decisions regarding the viability of intra and, perhaps, inter-seasonal storage., Larger-scale traders usually have their own information networks relying on more or less modern communications technology (eg: fax, email, etc). Although generally quite well informed of local markets, small-scale traders lack the resources to monitor markets on a regular basis (Sheperd, ibid). They depend more on ,word-of-mouth, information, which depends on the existence of traditional communication channels such as telephone lines, and a functioning transport infrastructure. The latter not only result in larger quantities transported but also improved flow of information. Although it is increasingly argued that users should pay for information, in the context of resource poor farmers this may seem unrealistic. Especially where mass media such as radios are used it is difficult to recover costs. Nevertheless, some FM radio stations in Uganda, such as Radio Lira, are experimenting with cost recovery and ways of involving listeners in programme making. In particular in remote areas, demand for information needs to be created. Farmers need to be made aware of their right to information, how they can make use of it, and how to influence its delivery. This can take the form of ,pressurising, an extension officer to provide a particular piece of information or request better packaged agricultural radio programmes from the local FM station. At the same time it is important to bear in mind that provision of information alone, however good its quality, is not sufficient. Markets must be sufficiently competitive so that farmers or small-scale traders can take advantage of opportunities offered. Aside from the availability of production factors, farmers must have the entrepreneurial spirit and knowledge to be able to make use of information. Obviously, if increased market or

Intended Outputs:

Improved understanding of the information needs of poor rural people in Uganda.

Using action - research approach, information delivery models for poor farming communities tested, with emphasis on decentralised market information services, and the use of FM radio.

Research findings disseminated.

Progress and Impact:

Improved understanding of the information needs of poor rural people in Uganda.
As a result of baseline, monitoring, and evaluation studies, the project has made significant contributions to the understanding of the information needs of poor rural communities in Uganda. In addition to marketing related information, more general information requirements by farmer communities were also identified (e.g. health and education related).

Using action - research approach, information delivery models for poor farming communities tested, with emphasis on decentralised market information services, and the use of FM radio.
The project has been able to demonstrate the importance of rural FM radio for farmers, especially those located in remote areas where access to markets and other services is difficult. In order to produce their outputs, FM radio stations usually depend on other communication technologies such as internet, mobile phones and satellite technology.

At the same time, stakeholders, including farmer groups, expressed the need for a multi-media approach to disseminate market information (e.g. radio, field training, telephones and printed media). The cost implications of such an approach need to be borne in mind, especially if larger numbers of people are to be reached with up-to-date information on agricultural marketing and other development issues.

Given the public good character of most types of information for small-scale farmers, collection and dissemination of market information are likely to rely on public funds for the foreseeable future. On the other hand, the private sector can make contributions in the form of free airtime (this depends on the regulation and licensing of radio stations by the relevant broadcasting commission), and purchase of valuable information by commercial farmers and medium to large-scale traders (e.g. through SMS). In addition, more resources need to be made available for the production of good quality radio programmes that are appealing to listeners and have the potential to attract advertising revenues for the radio stations.

Research findings disseminated.
Besides workshop and monitoring reports, the project partners have produced publications for wider dissemination such as an advice manual for the organisation of collective marketing activities by small-scale farmers, and a related CD containing a programme of 10 radio 'spots' entitled 'Together to Market'. A paper has been published in the Uganda Journal for Agricultural Sciences.

Project Conclusions:

Rural radio has been identified as a communication channel that is particularly useful if large population groups in remote areas are to be reached with up-to-date information. The majority of rural households interviewed have access to radio receivers and as such can receive radio broadcasts. It can be expected that a low-cost approach to communication in resource-poor areas will ultimately make crop post-harvest systems in Uganda and East Africa respond more effectively to the needs of the poor.

Publications:

KLEIH, U., OKOBOI, G. and JANOWSKI, M. (2004) Farmers' and traders' sources of market information in Lira district. Uganda Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 9 (1): 693-700: ISSN 1026-0919.