Development of a Mobile Phone Messaging System for Livestock Farmers in Nigeria

Abstract

This work aims to provide SMS-based service through which livestock farmers can obtain up-to-date information tailored to their needs and interests. The mobile phone messaging system was created using sublime text 2 code editor for the code writing. Pre Hypertext Processor Scripting language (PHP) was used in leveraging the codeigniter web framework. MySQL database was used to store field date generated because of its open source nature, while PHPMyAdmin database administrator application was used for the management of the database. The interface (visual platform) of the telagri web portal was created using Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML), Cascading Style Sheet (CSS), and Javascript language.Information delivered to the farmers were topical and useful for day to day farming activities. For example, a short message such as “Clean the brooding pen 2 weeks before the arrival of new chicks” is aimed at improving the capacity of poultry farmers to prevent disease spread in their farms. The Telagri portal shows that agricultural mobile phone messaging system is possible and could serve as a veritable tool for disseminating topical and timely information that could aid improved agricultural production.