Question 1 (opens 17 Sept.)

A couple of others have already mentioned the potential impact of using low-cost video technology to create and disseminate information with farmers. The USAID FACET project has developed Integrating Low-Cost Video into Agricultural Development Projects: A Toolkit for Practitioners to help organizations interested in using video to do so in a more deliberate way. The toolkit is available online at http://ictforag.org/video/.

Joshwooard,

Thanks for sharing tool kit information....i also understand that Component 1 of USAID-FACET project toolkit highlights few intersting examples of low cost video innovations....

Can you share some of the examples on intersting innovations in using low-cost videos among the farmers?

What are the critical factors for the success of low cost video innovations?

Thanks to one and all for this interesting discussion.

Radio – the first wireless ICT – is, of course, not an innovation.  However, new ICTs have fostered innovative use of radio. 

Before plunging into thoughts on ICTs and radio, however, let me offer the observation that people seldom adopt a new practice just because they get information about it.  They need to understand the information, they need to participate in, or at least listen to, a discussion or conversation or even debate about it. They need a chance to ask questions, offer opinions and express their doubts – even to say “I tried that technology, and it sucks!”  Thus, effective use of ICT’s not only conveys data, but translates it into widely understood language, facilitates dialogue about it, and enables a sharing of opinions about and experiences with it.  Clearly, this goes beyond delivering a 160-character SMS.

What this means is that, as Stephane Boyera pointed out above, most modern ICTs are best used by an intermediary such as a broadcaster or extension agent, a farmers’ organization or community leader.   These intermediaries (note the word “media” at the core) can translate into locally appropriate language, facilitate dialogue, field questions, host panel discussions, encourage debate, and keep it entertaining.

Modern ICTs and radio are a perfect match. Mobile phones have brought to radio both the phone-in show, where farmers can call in with their questions and comments,  and the “phone-out” show, where the host calls pre-selected farmers or extension agents to get “live, in the field” content from distant locations. SMS messages can remind farmers to tune-in when a radio show is about to begin.  Community radio agents with good mobile phones can capture and submit community discussions, farmer questions, etc to the broadcaster.  Radio sets with record and playback capacity can offer “radio on demand”.  IVRs are another great radio-on-demand tool, and they give farmers more options for asking questions or sharing their experiences by leaving a message.

Farm Radio International discovered much about how best to integrate new or modern ICTs with radio to provide farmers with effective communication services.  You can find the report at http://bit.ly/farmradioict

Considering women farmers support 70% of agricultural production in Sub-Saharan Africa, it is crucial for them to receive the appropriate, relevant information and resources in a timely and consistent manner. As Kevin points out above, radio used with other media, can help facilitate that.  Rural women tend to have more access to radios than mobile phones, even if they don’t personally own either. Through their own formal and informal networks, women inherently seek out the necessary knowledge they need to produce food for their family and to earn an income at the market. Radio, because of its affordability, accessibility and inclusiveness can strengthen women’s active involvement around agricultural production and marketing. Integrated with SMS programs, twitter, face to face gatherings and extension support, radio can not only reach but involve more women farmers than other ICTs alone.

While access to market prices using ICTs has been widely tested, the challenge is maintaining a reliable, long-term service that is sustainable and effective.  Knowing the price of something doesn’t always answer the right questions for both men and women farmers. Effective radio programs can potentially sustain a market service for farmers and further the discussion around market needs beyond just commodity pricing. Issues around transportation, storage, comparative advantage of commodity and local market selection, production timing, middlemen management and marketing to buyers can be discussed through radio-based and ICT-integrated discussions and forums. 

You can access Farm Radio’s report on MIS and radio

here: http://bit.ly/farmradiomis.

Just thought I would mention that this Thursday #agrichatuk on Twitter 8-10 pm GMT will be discussing women in farming. Do get involved if you can it would be great to hear some of the voices on here.

Sheila

I am spending a lot of time talking about women and our mobile tool.  Ironically we've seen that women are not early adopters of technology but are early adopters of training.  I don't think we need to develop different content for women vs. men but we have explored design and usability; meaning do women need a tool designed differently.  I don't think we will know more until after the results of our trial in October.

Rachel

This working paper gives insight on the status of ICT's in India

Will be happy to receive comments on this

Regards

Surabhi

Hi Surabhi...Good to read your post,

Yes..i read your scoping study report and it is quite interesting and informative......

For quick reading of our online participants, please highlight some of the innovative m4agri models...

Dear All,

Greetings and Wishes,

I am N. Anandaja, working as Assistant Professor (Agricultural Extension) in newly established e-Extension Centre of TNAU. I have specialization in Information and Communication Technology in Agriculture (ICT-A), especially on Transfer of Technology.

As you aware due to climate change and other reasons, agricultural growth rate is declining and food prices are soaring. Youth and farm women are not interested to take up farming as viable business proportionate for the livelihood. How to motivate the youths and other stakeholders to take up farming as profitable one? ICT is one such tool has little faith, which can facilitate speedy transfer of farm technological information especially on Market, Pest & Disease Control, Value Addition and Weather Information. 

Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (India) has explored the power and potential of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) intervention in Transfer of Farm Technology which may accelerate the speed of flow of technology, weather data and price information to extension system and finally reach to the needy farmers. Effort on promotion of ICT will help the ‘young minds’ to be in the farming.

Pl. view few of initiatives of e-Extension centre of TNAU

TNAU AGRI TECH PORTAL http://agritech.tnau.ac.in/

TNAU Weather Information Network http://tawn.tnau.ac.in/

TNAU Multi Video Conference facility http://vcon.tnau.ac.in (Meeting protected)

TNAU-IFPRI Knowledge support for Indian Agriculture http://www.advanceagriculturalpractice.in

TNAU-IIT-C Mobile Agro Advisory Services http://e-vivasaya.rtbi.in/aas/index.php (Password protected)

TNAU on-line course contents http://mms.tnau.ac.in/

TNAU-CDAC-Daily price information through Mobile http://services.indg.in/market_info/market_information2.php

I am looking forward to learn, work with you to sustain few initiatives of TNAU on the Nobel cause of agriculture,

If you are interested, let we work together

With kind regards

N. Anandaraja , Ph.D

Faculty, e-Extension, TNAU, Coimbatore-3

0422-6611383, 09443444383, [email protected]

Dear Anand,

Thanks for complete list on various e-Initiatives from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University and also for inserting links...

Of-course, i visited e-extension centre during last year and it is one of the "Role model" e-initiative from an academic institution...has a potential to become Centre of excellence in "e-Extension"....developing countries can learn lot of lessons from the TNAU's e-Extension initaitives...

However, i have few questiones?

1. What is the future plan of e-extension centre?

how it is going to be sustainable (as i understand most of the e-initiatives are research projects or one-time funding from state/ central government).

2.  What are the challenges your team faced while taking these e-initiatives to the farmers and other stakeholders?..