Senwes Scenario December 2016 / January 2017 | Page 52

••••

F UT UR E F OC U S

Mobile phones are
transforming farming
JENNY MATHEWS

Stay ahead of the game

T

he other day I was out in
the fields to help with the
cattle counting – something I find
a little frustrating. I would like
the animals to file neatly past like
obedient school children at a pace
which allows me easy, accurate
counting … Yes, I can hear you
laugh! This NEVER happens!
But that morning, sitting on the
roof of the bakkie, I had a light
bulb moment; I whipped out my
phone and videoed the cows and
calves as they passed – and earned
myself some rare praise from Son
no. 3 who was rather impressed
with my idea. We came home,
uploaded the video and counted
the cows and calves very easily
on the computer screen! How

50

much effort do we make to ensure
that the tools in our hands actually work for us? I asked my family
and neighbours to list tools which
are making a practical difference
to their farming! (And I am hoping that you will also think about
sharing any of your brainwaves
with us here too!)
COMMUNICATION
I recall those long ago years of
‘travelling blind’ with no mobile
phone - and still don’t take for
granted that I now have help at
my fingertips. No more getting
stuck in the mud on remote
roads, waiting and hoping that
help will appear; No more wishing that I had eyes in the back
of my head to be able to keep
a check on every tractor
driver – he’s a phone call
away! The difference cell
phone communication
has made is not only
measurable in terms
of stress relief, but
also in real savings
on fuel and time.

DEC 2016/JAN 2017 • SENWES Scenario

CAMERA
The other day in town my phone
beeped with a photo of a part
showing the number quite clearly.
I was able to go to the dealership,
show the assistant the photo and
know that I was getting exactly
the right part to bring home. We
have found the combined tools
of Camera and Whatsapp have
increased our efficiency and meant
less travelling costs and speedier
delivery.
BANKING
When I ask folk which tools have
made a difference to their lives,
they name the banking app as one
of the most useful. Not only is it
available 24/7, but they have also
been relieved of the double burden of carrying large amounts of
cash around and no longer having
to subject themselves to hours in
the bank at month-end.
MARKET INFORMATION
For years farmers have been sent
regular sms market updates by
the different agri-businesses but
an app which is popular with
our farmers is Dalevest. This is a
free service about South African
and US grain markets. Available
in Afrikaans and English, it provides live SAFEX prices; technical
and fundamental analysis; price
graphs; buy and sell signals;
weather forecasts; daily reporting