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November 2006 
How cell phones are helping fishermen in India.
Posted on Oct 17th, 2006
by 
Peace Through Commerce
Peace Through Commerce
It's always exciting to read a story about how technology is shaping the lives of people around the world, from farmers in Alabama to fishermen in Pallipuram, India. Kevin Sullivan's story for The Washington Post reveals what I learned when visiting peasant villages in Romania-- the cell phone is "the poor man's phone". Why does this matter? Well, I'll let one of the fishermen explain:
"The two crucial changes that have happened in my lifetime," said Jayan Kadavunkassery, 37, an Andavan crewman in a pink button-down shirt and a lungi, "are the inboard motor and the mobile phone."
Rajan said that before he got his first cellphone a few years ago, he used to arrive at port with a load of fish and hope for the best. The wholesaler on the dock knew that Rajan's un-iced catch wouldn't last long in the fiery Indian sun. So, Rajan said, he was forced to take whatever price was offered -- without having any idea whether dealers in the next port were offering twice as much.
Now he calls several ports while he's still at sea to find the best prices, playing the dealers against one another to drive up the price.
Access: Public
trackback:
http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/content/view/1231/31/