As technology is advancing, the agricultural sector has also been influenced by it. The introduction of cellular phones has provided farmers with new opportunities to make their work more comfortable and effective. With the increasing use of mobile phones, SMS (Short Messaging Service) is becoming an increasingly popular means of communication for farmers. It allows them to receive updates on weather forecasts, market prices and crop-related alerts in real-time.
To enjoy these services, farmers must first activate the SMS service on their mobile phones. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to activate SMS service on a farmer’s mobile.
Step 1: Choose a Cellular Network Provider
The first step is to select a network provider and have a mobile number registered with the provider. The most common cellular network providers in most regions are MTN, AIRTEL, ORANGE, VODAFONE. Once the preferred network has been selected, visit the nearest service provider’s office or dealer and purchase a sim card.
Step 2: Load Credit
Once the SIM card is bought, load it with credit. This step is essential because it enables the farmer to send and receive text messages on their mobile phones. Farmers can either purchase airtime scratch cards or use mobile money to load credit onto their phone numbers.
Step 3: Activate SMS Service
To activate SMS service, dial *131# on their mobile phone, and a menu would pop up from there, select option 2(My Offer), choose details of your offer (option 3) to retrieve the SMS bundle of your choice. Once the SMS bundle is purchased, SMS service will be automatically activated on their mobile phone.
In summary, to activate SMS service on a farmer’s mobile phone, they must first select a cellular network provider, get a registered mobile number, load credit, and then activate SMS service on their phones. The process is not complicated, and it is recommended that every farmer activates SMS service as it will help them stay informed and up-to-date with the latest events related to their crops.