Following were the key observations from last week’s 4 day long campaign carried out at 8+ villages in Nuwara Eliya district.
Young farmers are very encouraging (they are familiar with SMS)
We have clearly noticed that, young farmers (who have just stepped to the farming field) are well familiar with Mobile phones, SMS and computers. Seemingly they are a promising target group .
Opinion leaders – (importance and power)
Special set of people we have identified throughout the campaign, who are farmers, yet they have acquired some leadership among other Farmers. What ever said and donethrough these leaders, other farmers will never ignore, at least will think twice without saying ‘No’.
(One strategy: that we plan to arrange special in house meeting inviting them to sit side by side with traders. So we assume the outcomeswill automatically seep to other farmers).
Laptop demonstration was devastating
When we carry out our research survey (during the campaign) we had demonstrated the FarmerNet online system to gather their feed back. We have started it at Seetha Eliya village, where very young crowd interacted with us. But we notice they were reluctant, even become panic, to touch the mouse pad. That demonstration tend to form some conclusions in their mind that “without having computer knowledge, we will never use FarmerNet ”.
Since we opted not to use Laptop demonstrations anymore, hence switched to SMS text pad to show them how to type using quick memory (without just remembering the Sample SMS).
SMS Parameter QTY Kg measurement issues
What is the default Quantity value used to apply in commodity selling?
That was one question we raised at multiple villages.
General Answer was “KELI” it means 50Kg units. At the point of sale this was common to both farmers and traders. In case of Potato they use a measurement call “HONDARA” some time they make valuations based on cultivation Area (Square feet), and “GONI”, but still KELI is the most common scale.
Buyer’s response
Considering buyers at Nuwara Eliya wholesale market, Road buyers and Middlemen, most of them were not ready to accept the FarmerNet. One common statement was; “We have our long known farmers who will sell vegetable only to me. So we do not need any more!”.
But there were traders who were ready to try FarmerNet. Unfortunately these traders are very few in number. According to them, there were numerous new systems but none did work for them. Such bad experiences were caused by systems attempted by several companies (which could not be verified accurately).
Some Farmer community rejecting the System
Specially in Galpalama village where there is much more demand for vegetable supply, we have met few farmers who were so negative about the system because they think there supply demand will be distorted by the system.
