ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Empowering local Bolivian farmers by setting up an SMS-based price information system

Bolivia, 2010

Because of lack of knowledge and limited access to price and market information, small-scale producers in Bolivia are in an unfavourable position in agricultural commerce. Missing or incorrect information leads to wrong decisions in agricultural production and commercialisation. As a result agricultural income of smallholders is negatively influenced.

Together with the The International Institute for Communication and Development (IICD), Text to Change set up an SMS-based price information system through which local farmers can be provided with the best market information against relatively low costs.

The SMS-based price information system is part of a larger information system for innovation and competitiveness of small farmers set up by IICD. A price and input database has been developed and a monthly bulletin is published with key information on production methods and marketing outlets.