by SCADePSCADeP Funded Innovation Launched by President Maada Bio
In an epoch making well attended and colorful event marking the World Food Day Celebrations at the Kabala playing field, the president of Sierra Leone Dr. Julius Maada Bio has launched an innovative electronic extension platform known as the Interactive Voice Response System (IVR). The system is a first of it kind electronic voice messaging interactive response platform that gives farmers all over the country the access to key knowledge-based extension information.
The system comprises of a call center hosted at the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) where farmers can call to obtain critical agricultural advisory information on land preparation, fertilizer application, pest management, correct timing in the planting season, agro dealers, machine hiring services and more.
The system also provides key information on agricultural value chains such as rice, poultry, oil palm, cocoa, onion, maize and legumes. A key feature of the system is that messages can be delivered in some of the local dialects. This happens when a caller seeking information dials the numbers 899 from which instructions are obtained on the various crops.
The establishment of the platform was funded by SCADeP with oversight and in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture. This platform is a giant stride that will enhance agricultural productivity in leaps and bounds.
A robust popularization of the platform will also be pioneered by SCADeP so that farmers will take advantage of the system. SCADeP is a project under the Ministry of Agriculture by promote agricultural productivity and market linka