MTN Ghana Schools Farmers On The Future of Technology In Agriculture
The Mobile Telecommunication Network, popularly known as MTN, as part of its corporate social responsibilities, has engaged hundreds of Agriculture value chain players on the need to adopt technology in their agro activities or risk becoming redundant in the near future.
The engagement also exposed farmers to the financial support benefits for transacting effectively using MTN mobile money platform.
The engagement which was targeted at exposing farmers to the digital system of agro-technology with MTN Mobile Money solution brought together experts from the Apex Bank Ghana, Rural Banks from the Krobo enclave, Agric Directors and Extension officers, Agro input dealers, marketers, food processors, and farmers including livestock and crop cultivators.
At the Somanya Royal Hotel Conference Hall on Thursday, October 7, 2021, Mr. Alex Fodjuor –Head of Agric Extension for Lower Manya Krobo moderated the forum as master of ceremony (MC)
Presenting under the theme, consolidating digital payment for economic transformation, Mr. Faisal Ali, Manager for Mobile Money Implementation at MTN Ghana southeast sector noted that with the use of technology, farmers can plan, control, and monitor their farmers from distance.
He also said with MTN mobile money solution system, farmers can buy and pay for their choice of agrochemical from input dealers and thus be delivered without risk.
MTN is introducing an online shop, market place, to assist farmers and other stakeholders to buy or sell their products beyond their boundaries.
Even though work is ongoing to add an agriculture store among the current existing shops, Mr. Faisal Ali encourages farmers to take advantage and use the digital space to market their farm products and services across the shores of Ghana.
Advancing preparations to hold a commodity satellite fair for farmers in the Eastern Region, scheduled for October 27 and 28, 2021, the Director for Agric for Lower Manya Krobo Municipal, Mr. Komla Glante applauded MTN and said the move will serve as a source for record-keeping and validation.
On his part, Mr. Ako-Abang Benjamin officer responsible for mobile money at the Apex Bank cautioned farmers and the gathering to desist from declaring their mobile money personal identification numbers, otherwise known as PIN to unauthorized second parties.
Having schooled participants through how to deposit or withdraw money using mobile money account either with telcos, MTN wallet to the bank or from bank to MTN wallet, the assurance is that the money has the following safeguards, including security and convenience, mobile banking opportunity, transact business without boundary and digitizing of businesses. Transactions done can be tracked and measured as well.
While Agro input dealers sensitized the gathering on how to access their products and services using mobile money, the farmers have asked MTN to intervene and consider putting up irrigation plants to assist farmers in the Krobo area cultivate all year round.
A farmer, Mr. Amanotey who bemoaned the irregular pattern of rainfall in the 2021 farming season, appealed to MTN saying, “help us to get a regular supply of water for farming at all-time in the season. If this is done, we as farmers will get money and deposit in our momo account.”
The MTN Ayoba team has downloaded and installed the Ayoba App for participants with android mobile phones.
Data available to Rite FM indicates that there are over 17.5 million mobile money subscribers across all networks as of 2021, with a transaction value of GHC569 billion.
With a financial transaction value of GHC398 billion, MTN is commanding 10.7 million of the total subscribers. It also has 240,000 agents across the country with 194,000 being merchants.
Source: www.ritefmonline.org
