The problem we face is not the difficulties we have to overcome if we are going to use information technology as just a tool in agriculture, but the consequences of doing so unless we adapt a holistic approach. The reason for this is quite obvious. Agriculture is an important part of a larger system, and it would be imprudent to improve just a part of a system, hoping that the rest would take care of itself. Therefore, I have made a change in the title of my comments, which however embodies the questions posed in first call for contributions.
Just to emphasise my point, I think we all agree that agriculture is the sub-system at the very top of a food system. But, a food system is a tool devised by man in order to satisfy his nutritional needs. Unless one could do this, the question of other needs becomes academic. Further, its use enables one to produce enough food reserves to provide one certain degree of food security. Hence, justifiable use of appropriate food systems is the key to adequate global nutrition and food security.
Moreover, hunger and certain types of malnutrition are definite indicators of poverty, and according to the FAO, around 2 billion people are believed to be so affected. So, I think what we need to carefully ascertain here, is how we may use information technology through out food systems with a view to improve global nutrition and enhance food security. Otherwise, our efforts will not be categorically different from making plans to improve transport by trying to get an air bus to use a landing strip meant for a DC-3, the famous Dakota.
Thus, it is possible to identify some principles of usage, before we proceed.
- Make certain information technology used in different sub-systems of a food system is qualitatively and quantitatively compatible.
- Ensure that there are a sufficient number of technicians, programmers, maintenance workers, etc., are available at each sub-system.
- Ensure that the technology in use is the most suitable to perform the specific tasks you have planned to assign to it.
- Make sure the technology is robust, proven and above all, easy to repair and maintain with the resources at your disposal. Remember that robustness ought to be ascertained not only with respect to durability, but durability under your own local climatic and environmental conditions.
- Recall the primary purpose of the exercise, viz., better nutrition and food security. Food systems are getting more and more commercialised, hence, tend to adopt automation and other labour-saving methods to increase profits. This entails that fewer will be employed in food systems. You will often find it difficult to reconcile use of these capital-intensive types of food systems with better nutrition and food security, especially if your country has a high rural unemployment rate and migration of youth into urban centra is a serious social issue.
- So, carefully consider the context and what do you intend to achieve. I do not reject humane and sensible use of information technology in food systems. It is already in use most countries, at least in one or two sub-systems of a food system. For instance, retail shops and restaurants often have an electronic cash register.
- UHF links needed to wireless WWW and land-lines used for the same purpose require a reliable power supply, skilled technicians for maintenance and spare parts. Moreover, establishment of such a system from the scratch is immensely expensive. If your access to financial resources is limited, investment in railways/roads/canals, food storage facilities, etc., may prove far more effective tools in fighting hunger, providing employment and securing some food security.
- Do not hesitate to put information technology to the acid test. After all, it is just a tool, and it is you who use it, and not the reverse. If it does not give the result you want, but only a bit of prestige, decide quickly whether you want many of your people to go hungry with prestige, or you want them to be adequately nourished.
- Do not be mislead by hyperbole in which every new technology is packed. For instance, you may hear that illiterate youth ‘can click on icons and get information!’ Then, ask exactly how? Is the illiterate youth informed by the appearance of more icons? If so, how can icons express ideas and facts? Beg for an example, and let me know if you hear one! By short videos on ‘smart phone’ screen? What sort of bandwidth one might need to communicate with 100 illiterate youth by this marvel, especially in a country where there is crying need for basic education? Does not reason demand investment in education here, rather than in IT infra-structure?
- After all, if you decide to introduce or expand the use of information technology in food systems, do please make certain---
- Employees will not be made redundant
- Changes are introduced gradually.
- Food wastage is cut down.
- Food producers and end-users get a fair deal, and the number of middlemen is reduced to shorten the cost-chain.
- Information technology is not used for speculation in food prices (commodity futures).
Through the past centuries, we have embraced diverse technologies in the name of a nebulous notion, progress, which very successfully hid the real reason for our using technology, viz., making unlimited gain. And now, even the champions of technology are willing to do something about the environmental disasters resulting from the uncritical and inappropriate use of technology in the past. Certainly, information technology cannot harm our environment directly, but it can indeed harm our cognitive abilities making us prone to mind manipulation and loss of critical faculty. Therefore, let us not just remember the past errors, but not make them with this new tool, because the consequences of its misuse could be horrific.
M. Lal Manavado