Mobile phones ease village transactions

TECHNOLOGY

A mobile phone has never been as handy as it is in Kakumiro district after Rural Development Integrated Options (RIDO) a community-based organization in Kakumiro District championed increasing the number of youths and women involvement through mentorship.

It is the only option, they have if they are to benefit from ICT to ease business transactions, boost incomes and agricultural output.

"This is a landmark for an organization founded in 2007 with 40 pioneer members only. Today it  is transforming the lives and incomes more people through mentorship," said a RIDO credit supervisor Wilson Tumwesigire, RIDO "Going digital enables them to save, access soft loans and transact monetary transfers on their mobile phones."

The high cost of digital infrastructure, website, and its maintenance was solved by aBi Trust and the membership has grown from 40 members to 2,200 who can now access information of prevailing market prices on the mobile phones.

Farmers embracing digital media to improve transactions. (Photo by Titus Kakembo )

"Consequently the services of middlemen fleecing the farmers by buying their harvest at very low prices has been checked," stressed Tumwesigire. "This is made better by the construction of a store where the grain can be stored until the prices shoot up. The facility also enables bulk storage and supply to consumers."

In addition, it is through digital communication that the rural farmers are saving money and buying shares at sh10, 000 each in the vibrant cooperative society. The terms comprise: registration, be active in transactions and have an account.

"In addition, they have access to agricultural loans, there is no time-wasting queues, we enable them to foot utility bills, pay school fees, purchase of motorbikes, solar panels and other farm inputs at a low cost," says Tumwesigire. "This is in addition to the improvement of the home where one stays."

A case study of one Festus Byomugambi in Kijungu Village, Igayaaza who farms on 26 acres of land and juggles his time in hospital as a dentist was a revelation.

"I have coffee, maize and bananas," says Byom Festus Byomugambi. "There are times when I need cash to weed buy chemicals to get rid of pests and buy farm inputs - RIDO serves as us a bank and offers extension worker services. It is just a matter of pressing buttons and I am financially supported. They monitor the gardens."

That way the enterprising Byomugambi has four acres of Eucalyptus trees, dairy cows, beans and maize.

RIDO offices in Kakumiro equipped (Photo by Titus Kakembo )

Festus Rweikongo is a mixed farmer on 30 acres of land which supplies the neighboring town with pineapples, mangoes, banana, coffee cherries and sugar cane.

"Through mobile phones, I can supervise the  10 staff on the farm while I am away delivering produce at the store or consumer in the trading center," says Rweikongo. "This is the only way I can follow up what is being done on the 20 goats, the 13 acres of coffee trees, six others of bananas and the seven of trees."

RIDO has always been there when he needs financial assistance to weed, buy chemicals or purchase farm inputs.