Perception of the Product by the Users.
I held several interviews at each of the markets visited. Most of the users or potential users were indifferent to or dismissive of the MIS program. Typical reasons for not using the MIS were:
- the prices are out of date by the time they are issued
- the prices are inaccurate (usually the prices are too low)
One buyer commented 'It is a complete waste of time'.
In general, buyers and sellers were much more concerned about the very erratic rail situation (at Dar), and about the lack of water and fodder for their cattle.
My Comment on the Product
- users are indifferent or hostile
- numbers are considered as inaccurate or are just badly presented
- information should be displayed at the markets themselves, where the majority of the potential users are
- information should be input, processed and displayed within hours of
collection; this obviously would involve data input and reporting atthe market
the markets themselves
- present information displays have too many numbers - for 99% of users the figures for numbers, average weight and average price are of no interest and should be dispensed with.
- graphical information display should be considered in addition to tabular
- Arusha and Moshi markets are being ignored, and there is little or no analysis between different markets
- there is too little market analysis over time
- information display for average price of representative animals with a benchmark sex, weight and grade should be considered, instead of the present system of price/kg; this is more understandable to non-statistical or non-mathematical people.
- for export market reports, tabular and/or graphical information should be presented in the target currency or in US Dollars, NOT in Tanzanian Shillings; this is particularly important for price variations with time, where the Tanzanian inflation rate makes information meaningless
We should be trying to get over the following indices for any and every market-day:
- one absolute number which indicates whether prices are high or low
- an indication of premiums (if any) for higher grades and discounts for lower grades
- an indication of whether the variation with sex is normal or abnormal
- an indication of yardage and number sold
- an indication of the variability of deals within that market-day