Improving Agricultural Market Performance:
Developing Agricultural Market Information Systems
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4.3.4 INNOVATIONS IN 2GMIS IN TURKEY In Section 3.6.1 in Chapter 3, we cited the example of a private MIS platforms which has
advanced beyond providing market information and include ICT capabilities which make it
possible for producers to access inputs and farm services as well as allow lenders to monitor
crop performance during gestation. DenizBank, which is a leading private bank in Turkey, is
following this trail. It is a major player in the financial markets in TurkeyDenizBank is actively
involved in agricultural finance. The mobile-based applications which it has developed (see
Figure 22) allow farmer access market information and to crucial farm services. The system
consists of the followin :
• FarmRegistration (Tarlalarım): allows users to register their farms, including details
which make it possible to maintain a database on the following: type of product they
produce, field location, field size, time of harvest and type/condition of the soil. This data
facilitates the provision of extension advice, for example on fertilization, pest control
and weather forecast warnings tailored to the needs of the farmers.
• Advisory requests (Mühendise Sor): this facility allows farmers to can ask questions
about problems they have encountered and to obtain answers from experts, with an
alert function to notify users. Based on the questions asked, the experts generate advice
simulated according to growth model for the specified crop and send to farmers. There
is also a “Message History” facility which allows users to see previous questions, unread
and not-yet-answered questions.
• Price information (Hal ve Borsa Fiyatları): for accessing up-to-date/real-time
information on prices for various agricultural products.
• Rent a Tractor! (Kiralık Traktör): makes it relatively easy for farmers to rent tractors
from other farmers who are in the database. Farmers can post information on the
system on offering or requiring tractor rental while other farmers are able to search for
available tractors based on criteria such as model year, location and motor power.Farmers can also check for such details as rental fees, the location of farmer renting out
the tractor as well as post any special requirements.
• News (Haberler Duyrular): this facility provides news about agribusiness,
announcements on grants and incentives by government agencies, bank campaigns and
unexpected weather forecast situations. Important news is delivered as notifications.
16 Source: DenizBank Press Release – 18 October 2017.