ADDIS ABABA – Agricultural Transformation Agency announced that over 100,000 farmers have obtained agricultural product market information via 6077 free call.
Temesgen Gebeyehu, National Market Information System Project manager with the Agency said that within the past eight months, over 100,000 farmers have obtained market information. So far, the Agency call center has entertained 500,000 calls.
Mentioning that the Agency launched a system that enables farmers to collect market information across 31 centers, he said currently it has augmented its number to 157 markets aiming to expand the services to large number of farmers.
According to Temesgen, the system is devised to make the market information simple and transparent for farmers and customers as well. The system has also enabled the Agency to set the prices of five different types of crops – haircot bean, sesame, teff, wheat and maize. What is more, the Agency has collected 13,000 data in its information center.
He stated that apart 6077, there is also 8022 hotline that helps farmers in providing general agricultural information to enhance their knowledge thereby increase agricultural productivity.
Temesgen, also said that as a means to further increase the awareness of farmers on the use of the free calls, the Agency is working closely with media and stakeholders. And currently, the number of farmers and subscribers who obtained information has reached 4.8 million through calling 40 million times to 8028 hotline, since it is created.
Agency Communication Director, Loza Mesfin, on her part said that market information is very helpful for farmers to have transparent information about market price.
“Besides, it is helpful for people seeking to have agricultural product market information.”
The Agency is working in collaboration with various institutions including Ministry of Trade and Industry to boost farmer’s utilization of the system, she reiterated.
The Ethiopian Herald February 5/2020
BY TAMERU REGASA
