UC Researcher assisting Cambodian farmers

Farmers working in the field in Cambodia

Researchers from the University of Canberra are working with the Maddox Jolie-Pitt Foundation (MJP), an organisation founded by Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, to trial a cost effective text-messaging system with Cambodian farmers. The project, with the University of New England, is funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research to help improve the lives of some of the poorest people in Cambodia.

The text-messaging system can be used to alert villagers about disease outbreaks, like tuberculosis and other important health and agricultural information, such as pest problems in Samlaut, a remote and rural outpost in northwest Cambodia where MJP is implementing large scale integrated development interventions.

University of Canberra researcher, Dr Robert Fitzgerald said, "The seed for the simple, but successful technology came from a project to help Cambodian farmers get better prices for their crops".

Researchers chose SMS text messaging as the information tool of choice because Cambodia has 85 per cent mobile phone coverage and texting can cost as little as 3 US cents.

"We wanted to help farmers access the price of maize or soybeans on demand, so they were in a stronger position to negotiate the sale of their crop," Dr Fitzgerald said.

Link to Media Release

http://www.canberra.edu.au/media-centre/releases/current/june-2009/18_sm...