boonanet by feedelix wireless boonanet sms & im mediated price information for crops in ethiopia...
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BoonaNet by Feedelix Wireless
BoonaNET SMS & IM Mediated Price Information for Crops in
Ethiopia
Samuel Kinde Kassegne+, Ashenafi Assefa++ and Mieso Denko+++
+ Professor of Engineering, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA
++ Project Coordinator, FeedeliX Wireless, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
+++ Professor of Computer Science, University of Guelph, Canada.
August 22, 2007, WITFOR 2007, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
BoonaNet by Feedelix Wireless
What the project is all about ………….
BoonaNet – the use of SMS (text messaging) and IM (instant messaging) technologies in LOCAL SCRIPT (Ethiopic) for commodity market information collection and retrieval. Commodities considered: Coffee, Teff, and Berbere – Red Pepper/Paprika.
Images courtesy: Feedelix,WFP, LYIP, Savory,Oxfam
Ethiopic SMS
Ethiopic IM
Boona - Coffee
BoonaNet by Feedelix Wireless
What we will cover in this talk ………….
1. Project Objectives
2. Enabling Technology
3. Unique Application – Localized SMS/IM for pricing info.
4. What We Propose
5. What We Have Done
6. Commoditization Models for COFFEE, TEFF, and BERBERE
7. Deployment of Technology – BoonaNET and Extended BoonaNET
8. Analysis of Data (Coffee, Teff, and Berbere)
9. Pilot Project Evaluation
10.Future Plans
11.Acknowledgments
Images courtesy: Feedelix,WFP, AFOZ
BoonaNet by Feedelix Wireless
Goal 1 - Introduction of SMS
& IM in local script (Ethiopic)
Gondar – 2200 m
Sanka-Ber - 3240 m
Cheneq - 3600 m
Towards Ambiqo- 4000 m
Ras Dashen – 4620 m
Goal 2 - Build infrastructure for commodity price system (hardware – servers; software – client).
Goal 3 - Recruit, train and deploy team in coffee/teff/berbere regions.
Goal 4 - Build database of commodity price information – mobile
Goal 5 - Demonstrate Impact on Commodities Market.
Project Objectives
The Ras Dashen Model
[Highest point in Ethiopia]
Images courtesy: WFP, LYIP, Savory. WWGT1
5
is (this == ‘Model’ || this == ‘Metaphor’)
BoonaNet by Feedelix Wireless
Technical Basis – Enabling Technology
Mapped to 12 keys345 char
New SMS traffic trans. protocol
Feedelix Server
1- Any device
2 - Anytime
Feedelix Core Technology:
BREAK the SCRIPT BARRIER - Make Mobile Content Available on Any Device – Any Platform – Anytime.
Existing Solution: Hindi, Ethiopic, Chinese (Q4-07), Arabic (Q1-08), More Indic (08).
Indic Scripts (Hindi, Marathi, Gujaratti, etc)
ChineseScript (Pin-Yin)
Ethiopic Script
Arabic Script + variants (Persian, Urdu, etc)
Mapping & Rendering Technology for Non-Latin Scripts – Mobile Phones
BoonaNet by Feedelix Wireless
BROAD QUESTION: Can our technology be used to impact ordinary lives in developing countries now that mobile devices are ubiquitous?
FACTS ON THE GROUND
1.Farmers are getting paid a fraction of the value of their crops and continue to live in perpetual poverty [85% of Ethiopia]
2.Current commodity price information is based on radio and print media (Once in 2 weeks for coffee). No technology for real-time information is available. Need technology with Local Script (writing systems) support.
3.Successful model in the use of SMS (Roman/Latin script) for market information demonstrated in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, etc. [Kace Kenya]
Unique Application – Commodity Prices
Images courtesy: Feedelix, WHO
BoonaNet by Feedelix Wireless
Provide market and price content using technology: Mobile as well as desktop. Languages/Script: Amharic, Tigrigna, and Afaan Oromo.
What We Propose………..
Merits:
1. Higher/Competitive prices for goods
2. Bargaining power for farmers
Broader Impact:
1. Empower networking effect
2. Make the Ethiopian farmer compete at previously out-of-reach levels – say regional & global markets.
3. Poverty Alleviation
Commodities considered: teff (Gojam, Bishoftu, etc), berbere, coffee (Jimma/Kaffa and Sidamo)
SPECIFIC QUESTION: What are the technology and infrastructure conditions unique to Ethiopia and other dev. countries such as India?
BoonaNet by Feedelix Wireless
What We Have Done……….. Infrastructure Work
Logistics:
1. Fine-tune SMS/IM technology to Ethiopian conditions.
2. Selection of Commodity/Locations
3. Team Selection – Early technology adopters
4. Training and Deployment
Jimma/Kaffa
Dilla
Dejen
Images courtesy: FeedeliX.
Alaba
Mareqo
5 locations
Coffee – Jimma, Dilla, AA. Teff – Dejen, Berbere – Mareqo, Alaba.
ET TeamUS Team
BoonaNet by Feedelix Wireless
Farmer
Workflow of Coffee Commoditization – Model 1 – Free Trade
Collectors Wholesaler
Value Added: Coffee sorting & washing
Sent to Addis
Ranking of coffee. Grade 1, 2, 3, etc.
AuctionPremium quality
Failed qualitySold in local market.
Export
Supermarket in local market.
Images courtesy: WFP, Oxfam.
BoonaNet by Feedelix Wireless
Farmer
Workflow of Coffee Commoditization – Model 2 – Cooperatives
Cooperatives
Value Added: Coffee processing & transport to Addis
Unions
Sold in local market.
Sold to Fair - Trade
Images courtesy: WFP, LYIP, Savory.
BoonaNet by Feedelix Wireless
Small-scale Farmers
Workflow of Teff Commoditization
Farmer Traders - (Aggregators) – Buy grain from small farmers at local markets. Twice/week. Stored till shipping to Addis.
Sent to Addis
Ranking of Teff Grades:
1st - Magna,
2nd – Sergegna
3rd – Abolle
4th – Qey/Tiqur
Sell Points – Ihil Berenda/Mesalemiya - Merkato Area
Images courtesy: Projects Abroad, MediaETHIOPIA
BoonaNet by Feedelix Wireless
Small-scale Farmers
Workflow of Berbere Commoditization
Sent to Addis
Ranking of Berbere Grades:
1st -Zala,
2nd – Foshe
3rd – Tala
Sell Points –Berbere Tera- Merkato Area
Images courtesy: Projects Abroad, MediaETHIOPIA
Traders - Buy grain from small farmers at local markets. Thrice/week.
Sold by Feresula
= 17 Kg (Addis, Mareqo)
= 20 Kg (Alaba)
BoonaNet by Feedelix Wireless
Technology Deployment – How Does BoonaNet Work?
Jimma
Dilla
FeedelMessenger
Feedelix Server (virtual Addis Ababa)
Amharic SMS/IM from desktop
Coffee Farmer
SMS/IM price in Addis to Farmer in Jimma – Real Time
SMS/IM price in Addis to Farmer in Dilla – Real time
Coffee Farmer
Feedelix data collectors in Addis
Images courtesy: IAS
FeedelSMS
Daily price manifesto posted to farmers/traders
BoonaNet by Feedelix Wireless
JimmaJ1
J2
J3
FeedelMessenger
Amharic SMS/IM from desktop
SMS/IM price in Addis to Farmer in Jimma – Real Time
SMS/IM price in Addis to Farmer in Dilla – Real time
Feedelix Server (US)
Team in US
Coffee Farmer
SMS/IM price in US/Europe to Farmer in Jimma – Real Time
SMS/IM price in US/Europe to Farmer in Dilla – Real Time
Ad1
Ad2
Ad3
Ad4
Feedelix data collectors in Addis
US2
US1
DillaD1
D2
D3
Feedelix Server (virtual Addis Ababa)
FeedelSMS
Technology Deployment – How Does ExtendedBoonaNet Work?
Daily price manifesto posted to farmers/traders
BoonaNet by Feedelix Wireless
Analysis of Data – Coffee
Images courtesy: Feedelix
Price/Kilogram in Birr
August 6-20, 07
Days
Days
Price – Birr/Kg
6-10% diff. Between AA & Jimma.
BoonaNet by Feedelix Wireless
Analysis of Data – Teff
Images courtesy: Feedelix
Price/Quintal in Birr (100Kg)
August 6-20, 07
Does the onset of the Orthodox Christian Fasting season (16 days) on August 7/8 affect Teff prices?
BoonaNet - Magna Teff (Grade 1) Price in Nehase/August
350
400
450
500
550
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Addis AbabaJimmaDillaDejen20% price diff bet AA & Dejen
BoonaNet - Sergegna Teff (Grade 2) Price in Nehase/August
350
400
450
500
550
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Addis AbabaJimmaDillaDejen
< 5% price diff bet AA & Dejen
BoonaNet - Qey Teff (Grade 3) Price in Nehase/August
200
250
300
350
400
450
500
550
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Addis AbabaJimmaDillaDejen
15-33% price diff bet AA & Dejen
BoonaNet by Feedelix Wireless
Analysis of Data – Berbere
Price/Kilogram in Birr.
August 6-20, 07
BoonaNet by Feedelix Wireless
Pilot Project Assessment / Evaluation
I. Technical Challenges
1. Internet Connectivity/Reliability
1. Lost productivity time. App (FeedelMessenger) too big for bandwidth to install through web download. Thumb-drives and Hawala!
2. Data interruption on 20% of time. Worst last week.
3. Cost over-run for idle personnel during downtime. No bandwidth for debugging software problems.
4. Debugging of web-application easier (& perhaps cheaper?) in US.
5. National competitiveness in attracting business opportunities seriously affected. Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, Ghana benefiting. Why not Ethiopia?
6. Opportunities for our bright young men and women to be integrated to the global knowledge force seriously hampered.
7. New Millennium - new thinking – Allow competition in ISP.
2. Nation-wide SMS Gateway Availability
1. Work-arounds are possible; but affects scalability.
2. Will perhaps change in due time
BoonaNet by Feedelix Wireless
Pilot Project Assessment / Evaluation
II. Data Validity
1. Duration of data collection – 2 weeks.
2. Classification of commodity not uniform. Dejen’s Magna teff can be sold as Sergegna in Addis, etc.
3. Collection/Harvest time for crops (October for coffee, December-January for Teff).
III. Commodity-Specific Issues
I. Coffee has a unique commoditization model.
BoonaNet by Feedelix Wireless
Goal 1 - Introduction of SMS & IM in local script
(Ethiopic)
Gondar – 2200 m
Sanka-Ber - 3240 m
Cheneq - 3600 m
Towards Ambiqo- 4000 m
Ras Dashen – 4620 m
Goal 2 - Build infrastructure for commodity price system (hardware – servers; software – client).
Goal 3 - Recruit, train and deploy team in coffee/teff/berbere regions.
Goal 4 - Build database of commodity price information – mobile
Goal 5 - Demonstrate Impact on Commodities Market.
Images courtesy: WFP, LYIP, Savory. WWGT1
5
Project Assessment
BoonaNet by Feedelix Wireless
Our Immediate Plan Calls for:
a) Completion and automation for repeat at coffee harvest time. Extended infrastructure needed.
b) ETCropNet – From Pilot project to brick-and-mortar presence in Ethiopia.
c) BharatCropNet – New Markets (such as India) – Pilot project – Q4 08.
Actively pursuing external fund to finance these
projects.
Future Plans
Deliverable: Pilot Project that launches a network effect to empower Ethiopian peasants
BhahratiFasalNet
Images courtesy:Feedelix
BoonaNet by Feedelix Wireless
Thanks………….
Shiferaw Abebe – Addis Ababa (Former Graduate student)
Ted Kidane (Feedelix Wireless - USA)
Feedelix Team Members:
1. Ashenafi Assefa – Addis Ababa
2. Selamu Assefa – Addis Ababa
3. Hayat Regassa – Alaba
4. Jilalu – Butajira – Mareqo
5. Achenf Tamagn – Dejen, Gojam
6. Dereje Tafesse – Jimma/Kaffa
7. Shemsedin Nur – Dilla, Sidamo
8. Shantanu Chawla – San Diego, CA, USA
9. Samuel Kinde Kassegne – San Diego, CA, USA
Questions ??
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