Reuter Market Light : A solution positioned at the convergence of the news/information industry (Thomson Reuters) and the mobile industry (Idea Cellular/Airtel).
Problem :
1) At what price should I expect for my crop?
2) Where and when should I harvest and sell my crop?
3) What is the likely weather condition in my district?
4) How can I boost my productivity?
Service : Aids in informed decision making by sending timely, accurate, and relevant personal information to farmers on when (Crop cycle) to sow seeds, (Markets) price at which to sell the produce etc. This directly impacts the farmer by producing better yields and fetching better prices for his/her produce.
RML operates in 12 states in India and covers over 250 crops and varieties with more than 1000 markets (mandis) and 2000 weather locations across these states.
Price of service : $5 /quarter (INR 200/quarter)
The Intuit Fasal service goes a step further. There is no registration cost for receiving the messages on the mobile phone. The farmer is required to call the local language call center. The service covers the states of Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat.
It helps a farmer to
- Determine whether a price is fair and negotiate more effectively.
- Determine where and when to sell so that they get the best price for their product
- Determine who will give them the best price for their produce
- Timely negotiations while goods are of high quality
The company earns its revenues through advertisements on the mobile phone. Few of its customers who advertise are P&G and Godrej agrovet.
Nokia Life Tools : is an SMS based, subscription information service designed for emerging markets which offers a wide range of information services covering healthcare, agriculture, education and entertainment.
