When I was going through some articles on the latest advancements in cellphone technology, I came across an article on textually.com about how farmers in Kenya are using SMS every morning to find the best prices on the market for their produce.

On a visit to Mbare Musika in Harare you will hear lots of complaints from farmers about low prices on the market for their produce. When you compare these prices at Mbare Musika with other market places you will find a big difference in pricing and one wonders how best these farmers can get such useful information before their produce to the market.

I imagine a farmer in Mutoko avoiding the hassle and pain of selling her tomatoes at a give-away price by just sending an SMS to different market places in Harare and getting instant feedback on where to sell at a better price. This will also help vendors to know where to buy at low prices.

Kenyan farmers use SMS to beat climate-driven price uncertainty

MERU, Kenya (AlertNet) – William Muriuki and his wife are inspecting their vegetable farm in the tiny village of Karimagachiije, some 15 km outside Meru town in central Kenya. Cabbages, onions and Irish potatoes are ready to go to market. But the question is where?

Identifying the best market never used to be a problem, explains the 73-year-old farmer. “It was easy to tell what vegetables were in season in a particular area, so we knew the most appropriate places to sell our farm produce.”

But changing climatic conditions have disrupted market patterns. “It is no longer as predictable as it was,” he says. “We have to physically identify places with high demand.”

Even fairly recently, local farmers could be sure the rains would come around March 25 each year. So by the end of April, most vegetables would be in season, meaning low demand at nearby markets. In much of Eastern Province though, the rains would be delayed or not arrive at all, so farmers from the central region knew they could get a good price for their produce there.

But that’s no longer the case. “In the past few years, I have seen rains come much earlier than expected, or very late,” says Muriuki. “At times, it rains in Eastern Province much earlier or at the same time as it does here, or it fails to rain in both areas.”

In these challenging conditions, Muriuki and his farming colleagues have turned to technology to help them find the right market. Read the full article on here

Zimbabwe has a host of talented people helping to make it both survive and grow. Kerry Wallace is one of them. He manages one of the best restaurants in the country, dishing up stunning food laced with his special brand of humour. Every year Kerry keeps audiences at HIFA well fed and wowed at his food stall on the green.

Kubatana went inside out with Kerry, ex-garden boy; currently a cook-boy.

Describe yourself in five words?
Another fucker out to lunch.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Kids be free to do whatever you want to do, and be whatever you want to be just as long as you don’t hurt anybody. (Wise words from the musical Hair).

What’s the most ridiculous thing you’ve ever done?
Everything.

What is your most treasured possession?
My Ipod with over 10 000 songs on it from the 60s onwards.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Being on my own.

Do you have any strange hobbies?
Cruising.

What do you dislike most about your appearance?
My bald head from the back. And being cut at birth – my circumcised dick.

What is your greatest extravagance?
Olive oil and Parmesan cheese.

What have you got in your fridge?
Café leftovers.

What is your greatest fear?
Well it ain’t dying that’s for sure!

What is your favourite journey?
On my own to Cape Town to see my mother.

Who are your heroes in real life?
John Lennon and Neil Young: peace and love is what they have in common.

When and where were you happiest?
Life’s always been fraught.

What’s your biggest vice?
Alcohol.

What were you like at school?
The Organiser.

What are you doing next?
Hopefully retiring to work in Nyanga or Juliasdale.