FINANCIAL Sector Deepening Trust (FSDT), a non-governmental organization (NGO), implored mobile phone operators to support agriculture in the country through innovation of useful applications.
FSDT Technical Director, Sosthenes Kewe, told reporters in Dar es Salaam that with proper use of mobile phones could boost the country's agricultural development through wide dissemination of information peasants and other stakeholders.
Tanzania has in recent months witnessed launching of mobile service applications that enable agricultural producer to access timely and relevant information regarding modern farming methods and markets for their produce.
Zantel Tanzania and Sibesonke Limited partnered with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives to launch a special mobile service application for farmers called Z-KILIMO.
Through Z-KILIMO, farmers, even those in rural areas, can now easily access vital information on how to properly manage their activities and improving their productivity.
"We commend such positive efforts but more needs to be done," said Mr Kewe, adding that access to information is crucial for agribusiness to prosper in the country.
Apart from saving farmers considerable time and efforts previously exhausted in accessing agricultural information and services, it is anticipated that Z-KILIMO would help small-scale farmers produce sufficient food at affordable prices.
Sibesonke, Zantel vendor for Z-Farming, was announced in March 2013 as a National Technology and Content Cooperation with the Tanzanian Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives and the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Development. There is also similar cooperation between Sibesonke and Vodacom Tanzania where farmers get agricultural information via Vodacom network.
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