Mobile Money Transaction As A Drive Towards Improvement Of Farm Produce Sales To Small Scale Farmers In Trans Nzoia County A Study Of Women In

ABSTRACT: Poverty among women in Trans Nzoia district is mainly caused by poor returns from the sale of their farm produce, the main income gene-rating activity of the women groups in the area. Poverty has also been occasioned by the small parcels of land which produce minimal yields, such as maize, vegetables and cereals. These women, a majority being old and semi-literate, are in dire need of high incomes to cater for the ever-growing needs. As it has been shown in other developing countries and elsewhere in Kenya, small-scale farming entangled with mobile money transfer technolo-gy can provide constant flow of income of up to three times what is earned from traditional marketing of their farm produce that is harvesting and taking to market for sale. Further embracing this fast rising technology provides high income through easy money transfer and transaction settlement. This paper will discuss the potential of mobile money, specifically to small scale farmers in fighting poverty among the rural women. High income translates to better standards of living, in that the women will be better able to meet the basic requirements of clothing, food, education and shelter for themselves and the orphans under their care. In addition by engaging in mobile money as a means of transaction of their farm produce will improve their negotiation skills alongside entrepreneurial skills. Key words: Mobile money transfer; small scale production; food security; technolog