SciDev.Net (London)
Ochieng' Ogodo
24 April 2009
Nairobi — A pilot project that uses mobile phones to alert farmers in remote regions to where they can buy drought-tolerant beans has been launched in Kenya - just one of a set of pilot projects using mobile and geospatial technologies to improve communication of important information to farmers across Africa.
In the first step of the system researchers confirm where dealers are stocking drought-tolerant beans, mapping their locations. Scientists then use mobile phone services to send the information to government extension workers who have second-generation mobile phones, common in Africa. They can then relay the information to farmers in person or via their phones.
"We will produce maps which can be used by extension officers or community development workers so that this information can be passed onto farmers who wish to acquire improved drought-tolerant bean seeds," says Andrew Farrow, a spatial analyst at Uganda's Kawanda Agricultural Research Institute. He addressed the WhereCampAfrica mapping conference held at the International Livestock Research Institute in Nairobi, Kenya, earlier this month (4 April).
The project is expected to end in September with feedback from participating farmers.
Another project, taking place in Kisumu and Homa Bay on the edge of Lake Victoria in western Kenya, uses mobile phones to provide farmers and government workers with information about the soil.
"Soil samples will be scooped and scanned using near-infra-red and mid-infra-red spectroscopy technology which can identify the electromagnetic wavelengths of various elements in the soil," says soil scientist Peter Okoth, from the Nairobi branch of the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture.
The soil sample is given a fertility rating which is then digitally mapped and accessed by mobile phone or the Internet, using Google Map Maker.
Farmers will be able access information about the soil type in specific areas, the amount of fertiliser to apply and which seed varieties would be suitable, says Okoth.
The project is being carried out with the help of the non-profit company Farm Input Promotions Africa, the Uganda branch of the Grameen Foundation bank and the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute.
Another project improves market access for smallholders by providing the daily price for commodities at a variety of nearby markets as well as options for buying farm equipment or obtaining agriculture-related funding, says Pierre Sibiry Traoré of the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics in Mali. Farmers can also get information about the weather, crop diseases and pest outbreaks.
The drought-tolerant bean mapping project is a Quick Win project of the AGCommons initiative which aims to enhance use of geospatial information in farming. Quick Win projects last less than a year and "essentially pave the way for larger and longer projects", says Traoré.
Other Quick Win projects are taking place in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mali, Niger and Uganda.
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Read the following book on the GMO game they are playing on us. If we eat GMO , we might as well eat plastic fruit; RIDICULOUS !!!!
SEEDS OF DECEPTION BY JEFFREY SMITH
“ A must read for truthseekers. “ [www.seedsofdeception.com]
PARABLE OF THE GMO GAME AND ITS ORIGINATOR (Satan aka D-Evil )
And Jesus said another parable to them, saying,
“ The kingdom of heaven is like a man which planted good seed in his field:
But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares (GMO / FAKE) among the wheat (NATURAL), and went his way.
But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
So the servants of the householder came and said to him, Sir, didn’t you plant good seed in thy field ?
Where did these weeds (GMO/ FAKE) come from ?
The Householder said to them, An enemy (D-Evil) has done this.
The servants said to him, Do you want us to pull up the weeds ?
The Householder said, No ; we don’t want to hurt the NATURAL plants by accident.
Let the GMO /FAKE & NATURAL grow together until the harvest.
And in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather together first the tares (GMO/ FAKE) , and bind them in bundles to burn them (In The Lake Of Fire & Brimstone).
Then gather the wheat into my barn. (PARADISE) “ [Matthew 13:24 -30 - Paraphrased]
ROACH GENES IN CORN [http://ixquick.com/do/metasearch.pl?query=Roach+genes+in+corn&cat=web&pl=f f&language=english]
AIDS VIRUS IN CORN [http://ixquick.com/do/metasearch.pl]
[This inspiring poem was featuring in the movie “Coach Carter ”]
Our Deepest Fear Is Not That We Are Inadequate, Our Deepest Fear Is That We Are Powerful Beyond Measure. It Is Our Light , Not Our Darkness That Most Frightens Us.
We Ask Ourselves, Who Am I To Be Brilliant, Gorgeous, Talented, And Fabulous ?
Actually Who Are We Not To Be ? You Are A Child Of God.
Your Playing Small Doesn’t Serve The World.
There Is Nothing Enlightened About Shrinking So That Other People Won’t Feel Insecure Around You.
We Are All Meant To Shine, As Children Do.
We Were Born To Make Manifest The Glory Of God That Is Within Us.
It’s Not Just In Some Of Us; It’s In Everyone.
And When We Let Our Own Light Shine We Unconsciously Give Other People Permission To Do The Same.
And As We Are Liberated From Our Own Fear, Our Presence Automatically Liberates Others
- Marianne Williamson -
[NOTE – BEING AFRAID AND REFUSING TO GET INVOLVED WON’T STOP US FROM DYING. BUT BEING AFRAID CAN PREVENT US FROM LIVING]
(Nkosi Sikeleli Africa )
God bless Africa May her glory be lifted high Hear our petitions .
God bless us, Your children God we ask You to protect our nation Intervene and end all conflicts Protect us, protect our nation, our nation.
From the blue of our heaven, From the depths of our sea, Over our eternal mountain ranges, Where the cliffs give answer.
Sounds the call to come together, And united we shall stand, Let us live and strive for freedom, In South Africa our land.
[Enoch Mankayi Sontonga]
WAKE UP ! STAY UP MY BROTHERS & SISTERS ! BE SELF-SUFFICIENT IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
- Life Is a Game. Have Fun. [ Luke 18:17 / Isaiah 11:6 ]