The use of mobile phones as a panacea to facilitate quick food trade rollout between markets and countrysides: A study of Ayaou-Sran

Raphaël Kouadio OURA and François N’goran KOUASSI

Net Journal of Agricultural Science
Published: November 10 2015
Volume 3, Issue 4
Pages 104-111

Abstract

With an average capacity of 600,000 tonnes, the Bouaké Wholesale Market (BWM) provides opportunities for the countrysides. Unfortunately, the location was a constraint for Ayaou-Sran countrysides. Located more than 90 km from Bouaké, the sub-prefecture seems to have found an answer through the mobile phone. Through the telephone, partners are also in touch with other buyers in the sub-region. They also get in touch with traders in order to talk about time and products’ selling conditions. This strategic partnership enables improved communication and decision-making as regard to both peasants and buyers. Thus, farmers manage to sell the bulk of their products very quickly, which products were formerly sold by individual purchasers in the city. The integration of mobile phones today reduces the scope of these individual purchasers and favours the increase of farmers' incomes. This paper summarizes practical experiments in Côte d'Ivoire as part of the testing of e-agriculture with some cooperatives.

Keywords: Mobile phone, distance, communication, e-agriculture.

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