How ICT Can Transform Food Production: A Mobile Phone App for Fish Farmers in Uganda

Uganda aquaculture is growing through the rapid expansion of cage culture on Lake Victoria and other water bodies, and the advance of pond based culture of tilapia and the African catfish. Fish farmers need timely and... [ view full abstract ]

Uganda aquaculture is growing through the rapid expansion of cage culture on Lake Victoria and other water bodies, and the advance of pond based culture of tilapia and the African catfish. Fish farmers need timely and accurate information about feeding, fish prices, fingerling, fish diseases, and potential buyers for their production.  Mobile phone application has been developed for fish farmers by a private firm who operate the system in collaboration with partner public agencies and farmer organizations. Factors that seemed to discourage mobile phone use included: lack of electricity, poor network coverage, high calling credit and maintenance costs, lack of awareness and promotion. Several different business models have emerged in efforts to provide technical support to African farmers with cell phones. Each varies in the level of public sector control, business model, cost, and flexibility.  One commercial model invites farmers to subscribe to a fish-focused network of producers managed by a service provider who moderates the transactions and may be compensated by subscription fees, transaction fees, or commissions. The entrepreneur firm builds and supports a network of suppliers, producers, and buyers whose transaction costs support the network. The source of technical information may be uncertain, but the responsiveness to technical questions may be rapid because the entrepreneur is motivated to keep and grow the number of participants. This is the approach we take in Uganda.  The purpose of this paper is to describe the implementation of a mobile-based application for fish farmers, participation processes, and services provided.  The conclusion considers how ICT advances food security and development by empowering farmers and linking them to each other, extension, and input suppliers.