In 2001 the CROMABU project (www.cromabul.com) was designed to gather and disseminate relevant information regarding crop prices in local and international markets in English and Kiswahili to help empower micro and small enterprises. Youth, particularly ex-students from primary and secondary schools, are the key channel of communication between the CROMABU and the targeted small-scale farmers in Magu; they are employed as agents and use bicycles to collect and distribute all relevant documents to the villages.

CROMABU also operates a telecenter and internet cafe for the general public where economic youth clubs, school children, and organized farmers group can learn basic ICT skills and access email and internet at low costs.

CROMABU’s development phase will end in September 2006 and the project is is regarded by IICD as a pilot to be replicated in other rural areas with crop marketing problems.