According to Manobi, the service was designed to increase access to strategic information for Senegalese small agricultural and agro-industrial operators. It aims to enable farmers to sell their produce at realistic prices by making it impossible for wholesalers to inflate prices, shortening negotiation time and decreasing the waste of perishable goods. It also aims to support the livelihoods and improve the safety of Senegalese farmers and fishermen by giving them access to up to date market prices, weather reports and other information services via cell phones.

The service was first offered only via the internet, and in 2005 Manobi launched the SMS service. The programme partners cover the cost for the free access to Xam Marsé, and of the message transmission. In addition, Manobi offers every producer a working space in the website to manage and organise their list of products according to their needs of the moment.

Recipients receive their daily SMS about their chosen product, but can make additional SMS requests to update prices of their preferred products or check that of the other products.

Manobi has four employees conducting surveys in Dakar markets. They use pocket computers with a mobile application that enable them to continuously update the Xam Marsé data base.

Agriculture, Economic development.

According to Manobi, more than 3400 producers, middlemen, traders and hotel keepers participate in the service. Manobi's information system on fruits and vegetables accessible by GSM-Data has enabled the farmers of the Niayes - a market gardening area in the West of Senegal- to increase their sale prices negotiated from their fields or on the markets by over 50% per year. Overall…this brings an annual income of CFA F 10 billion from the 7,000 ha cultivated in the Niayes area, which can immediately be used by the beneficiaries to take care of their own social and economic development.”

The project was initiated by MANOBI, a private telecommunications company, in partnership with three local fishing unions, two telecommunications companies (Alcatel and Sonatel), and the Canadian International Development Research Centre (IDRC). “Manobi's clients have increased revenue by 20% after deducting communication costs. The service was tested and launched in 2000 by a Senegal businessman Daniel Annerose, is now backed by Sonatel, the principal national telephone operator.

In conjunction with the Senegalese agribusiness companies Manobi is now developing a monitoring sytem for advertisements in the pace available in these SMS so as to sponsor the service and continue making it available free of charge.