MTN to lose e-Soko monopoly

Plans are underway to connect all mobile telecommunication companies operating in the country to the e-Soko application, the Ministry of Agriculture has said.E-soko is an electronic platform that gives farmers, consumers and traders up-to-date information about market prices for essential commodities to mobile phone users.The system has hitherto been connected to the country’s leading mobile operator, MTN, but it will soon be availed to Tigo and Airtel subscribers as well, to help spread the benefits faster and wider, an official said.Wilson Musonera, the systems administrator of the platform, said the rollout would be implemented during the forthcoming second phase of the e-Soko project following the successful execution of the first phase.“So far the project covers 62 markets, countrywide, but we are continuing to extend it to more markets.” There are more that 4.4 million mobile users in the country.The first phase focused on the setting up of the project, getting farmers and traders to understand the systems, applications and code number, he explained.“For now, the e-Soko application is in Kinyarwanda but we will introduce the English and Kiswahili versions in the second phase,” he added.The system which enables the public to make informed decisions regarding production and marketing of their produce scooped a continental award last year.The project won an African award as a model innovative project in Africa that facilitates Rwandan farmers to access market prices during the third Technology in Government in Africa (TIGA) Awards held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.More than 75 per cent of the country’s population earns their living, directly or indirectly, from agriculture especially through subsistence farming. E-soko is accessed through sending an SMS – at a cost of Rwf10 – to 7656 to receive information about a particular commodity.Field staff drawn from the Ministry of Agriculture collect the market price information and enter them in a database.Musonera said the project, which is currently hosted by MTN Rwanda, will soon be moved to the National Data Centre.The second phase of the e-Soko is to be implemented under the third phase of the National Information and Communication Infrastructure Policy (NICI III).NICI III will see the full utilisation of new services developed during phases one and two.According to a large-scale banana plantation farmer in Ngoma District, Celestine Habiyaremye, the project helps them to know real-time market prices and determine what quantity to take to the market.“We shall be grateful if the system is connected to Tigo and Aitel because many of my colleagues are connected to the two service providers,” Habiyaremye, who transports his produce from his district to Kimironko and Kabarondo markets for sale, said.Viviane Mukantaganzwa, a trader at Nyabugogo market, observed that she cannot be duped by farmers and buyers since she is aware of the market prices countrywide.“By just sending an SMS I am able to know and compare prices on the market,” she noted.