Question 5 (14 Dec.)

The current phase of the FAO CountrySTAT project is focused on Sub-Saharan Africa. During a recent conference where we met with our 17 partners to discuss phase 2 strategies, it became very clear that in terms of integrating ICT within institutions the non-functional requirements were the most important requirements to meet in terms of project success. Issues of connectivity, usability, portability, affordability, deployability, etc. are much more important than the exact function set. If these basic issues aren't addressed you may get off the ground but you will crash before long. Having said that, it's also clear that the most intractable problems are typically institutional. Champions are needed. Getting people to work together, cooperate, share information can be incredibly difficult. Our project has a strong focus on institutional issues and we spend a lot of effort supporting transversal working groups across institutions and ministries to get people working together. It's the only way to have some chance of longevity. Finally, methodological support and training on the use of standards is also vital if the work is to have broader impact. Often at the national level the consistent use of international standards may not be seen to be of fundamental importance, whereas when working at the regional and international level we see that lack of standardization can create insurmountable problems when trying to compare and harmonize data.

I agree with Yves, that cooperation at several levels is the most difficult ICT project issue to manage. In institutions or nations where isolated research & development culture is the standar, intedisciplinary ways of formulating, and solving complex problems is very, very difficult. To cross teams, organizations, enterprises, goverment agencies, state and national infraestructures, is a big challenge to develope efective information systems and services to promote rural living. But, in our point of view, to develope a good ICT strategy becomes first than any technology "ready to use".

Dear all Bosch and Yves point are very important. Although government and the private sector can outline roles that can be traceable. I assume that database for all players in the agricultural chain can have great impact if properly organized and functions assigned in the organogram to facilitate accountability and transparency in empowering those with up-to-date informations on their various activities. People can work together if the SMART tool is used to define the various aspect of implementation of ICT project, everyone must be given a task and should be able to deliver according to specification, also incentives will enhance efficiency. Please, take a look at this, "A Review of Nigerian Agricultural Policies".

Question 5: What suggestions do you have for integrating ICT into agricultural value chain development projects and programs? What consideration must be given to the people, institutions and processes that are impacted by the introduction/use of ICT? ------------------ Some variables that I believe should be considered for integrating ICT into agricultural chains. I mention four (there are more) and not necessarily in order: a) Quality of Information: If the information is useful for decision making, or provides information which impacts positively on the chains. is easier to incorporate information technology as a means for this information flow. b) Costs: Variable very important. The costs are often the most limiting for the incorporation of ICT in the chains. The NGOs have relied on this subject, however, the public sector can and should provide greater support to agricultural chains in this area. c) Public infrastructure: There are cases where public infrastructure does not allow private use of ICT .. This is a variable that limits the development of ICT in agricultural chains. In rural areas of Latin America's communication infrastructure is low and totally absent in many countries. d) Training: Always needed. It is a constant work where public and private institutions can support each other. I know there are more variables, and the weight of each depends on the country and area

[quote="hbenavides"] b) Costs: Variable very important. The costs are often the most limiting for the incorporation of ICT in the chains. The NGOs have relied on this subject, however, the public sector can and should provide greater support to agricultural chains in this area. [/quote] Thanks for this detailed answer Henry. I would like to follow up on a particular point, copied above. On the cost variable, would you tell us more about how "NGOs have relied on this subject" and how the "public sector can and should provide greater support"?

Here is more information on CountrySTAT for those interested: http://www.fao.org/economic/ess/countrystat/en/

[quote="Sea"] Please, take a look at this, "A Review of Nigerian Agricultural Policies". [/quote] Dear Sonigitu Ekpe-Aji, thank you for all your comments and the references you have been sharing. To let everyone know, after the forum we will be compiling all appropriate references that are shared in the forum into a new section about ICT in agricultural value chains under [url=http://www.e-agriculture.org/559.html?&no_cache=1]Key Topics[/url] cheers

In response to an item posted in the Reference section: From LEISA MAGAZINE, VOLUME 25, ISSUE 2 "FARMERS AS ENTREPRENEURS" DR. SYED MD. ZAINUL ABEDIN wrote: [quote] Dear Michael, I appreciate this topic.Specific studies on this aspect may be cited for the information of the participants.I feel farmers in developed country with more investment may be more entrepreneurial than the farmers of poor countries.This happens for the improved management support for the farmers and value chains in the developed countries.You may like to agree that the organized value chains are almost non-existent in the poor countries.So,the introduction of value chains in poor countries may be considered as a priority. Thanks in advance for considering the point. Best regards, Zainul [/quote] This raises an important issue. In any complex system, ICT are only one of a set of tools development practitioners have at hand. In many situations ICT alone is not sufficient to address a problem, so we ICT practitioners need to build personal networks with development practitioners from other subjects, and collaborate! :)

[quote="Lisa-Cespedes"] Question 5 (14 Dec.) What suggestions do you have for integrating ICT into agricultural value chain development projects and programs? What consideration must be given to the people, institutions and processes that are impacted by the introduction/use of ICT? [/quote] Yves, Marcelo and Sonigitu have touched the crucial issue of cooperation. What can be done about it? Based on our experience I have four specific suggestions for projects that are integrating ICTs into agricultural value chain initiatives: 1. Map out all the relevant people and institutions that are going to be impacted by the introduction of ICTs (e.g.: farmers' organizations, input suppliers, processors, retailers, public agencies); 2. During the design/formulation phase consult them extensively, promoting a genuine process of sharing and learning from each other; 3. In the implementation phase introduce an appropriate set of incentives where every body has a responsibility; and 4. Promote periodic and transparent mechanisms of communication between stakeholders which helps to build trust and local ownership. Difficult technical problems are easier to overcome when the necessary space for dialogue and learning is created Naturally, it is not always easy to practice all these principles. There is often a tension and trade off between the need to meet pre-established deadlines and to promote a genuine cooperation processes. Developing trust and participation ensures sustainability but takes time! In these matters there are no pre-set recipes.

[quote="Lisa-Cespedes"] Question 5 (14 Dec.) What suggestions do you have for integrating ICT into agricultural value chain development projects and programs? What consideration must be given to the people, institutions and processes that are impacted by the introduction/use of ICT? [/quote] Many good points have already been raised by other contributors on this issue. I'll try not to repeat them, and focus on general lessons we've learnt: 1. Try to approach the integration of the ICTs in a holistic manner: that is to say, taking into account all dimensions (human, cultural, geographical, technological, financial, political etc.). This undoubtedly costs time, but may help to avoid failure in a later stage. 2. Take the integration as a process rather than as a project: a process approach may be less clear cut from the start, but is more flexible and takes into account that change often only occurs after trying, learning, trying again, learning, trying again etc. before fully adopting a new way of organizing reality. 3. Local ownership and trust are essential: stakeholder involvement throughout the whole process (awareness raising, visioning, technology exploration, formulation, implementation, evaluation, learning) can help to ensure these. 4. Avoid isolated pilots: build (local, national and international) knowledge and peer exchange mechanisms. 5. ICT's are most succesfully integrated in situations where other variables have already been tackled. In other words: ICT's can enhance existing solutions and practices, but often fail when they're presented as THE solution to THE problem. Example: in Burkina Faso, IICD supported a project on awareness raising on water hygiene and sanitation problems in 20 remote villages. The NGO Sahel Solidarite which worked on this programme already had a sound methodology, involving local villagers in the campaigns, and had built a good trust base in the concerned region. Equippping the extension workers and the villagers with digital cameras and other ICT's, training them etc. then helped the campaign to become more succesful in terms of participation, reach, impact and behavioural change. I doubt this would have been the case if the project had had to start from scratch or if we'd had to tackle the trust and local customs issues too. A nice video on this project, quite similar to the Digital Green approach btw, can be found on: http://atelier.rfi.fr/video/1189413:Video:24293

[quote="Lisa-Cespedes"] Question 5 (14 Dec.) What suggestions do you have for integrating ICT into agricultural value chain development projects and programs? What consideration must be given to the people, institutions and processes that are impacted by the introduction/use of ICT? [/quote] 1. Based on my experience ICT alone cannot play any role unless otherwise projects are executed in chronological manner. Benefits of ICT integrated into agricultural value chain initiatives can suggest the following roles; 2. More active role of PPP (Public Private Partnership) must be encouraged. There should be a common though process by offsetting each ones gaps (what public entity could do private entity cannot and vice-versa). 3. I strongly suggest local communities, SHG, NGOs, and cooperatives to be actively involved in introduction of ICT including farmers, suppliers, retailers. Since they are the ones directly impacted, they must be consulted at all times for their invaluable inputs, knowledge sharing, learning from experiences, and much more. 4. Proper & accurate surveying needs to be conducted in the local geographical area for soil quality & testing, crops harvesting, weather patterns, use of agricultural equipment. 5. Training and education relating to making the best use of land, equipment, high quality yields, optimal production capacity at lowest costs. 6. Encouraging & educating farmers to procure best quality agricultural products (fertilizers, pesticides, equipments) for high yield and returns at affordable costs. 7. There needs to be a sense of trust and accountability among the communities and all the stakeholders. 8. Awareness campaigns, group meetings, discussions on the factors like geographical, political, financial, cultural also needs to be taken into account. Thanks, Ryhan

Hi all, Under this section , many participants have elaborated the ways by which we can integerate ICTs into the value chain. Here I give my views withrespect to this question and subsequent discussions; People: All stakeholders in the value chain must be involved i.e. farmers, intermediaries, input suppliers , logistic providers, scientists etc. If all of these are involved, only then we can make ICT projects happen and can win their support. In developing countries, where value chains are more in hands of intermediaries, excluding them entirely from the chain will not help as they have some of theactivities. So their roles have to be redefined the roles of all the people i.e. actors must be defined across value chain in the ICT enabled environment The training of these stakeholders is also an important factor as mentioned above Institutions; the institutions across the entire value chain i.e. local level and national level should collaborate for data generation and updation. these could be private as well as public institutions. national level institutions i.e. research institutes, meterological departments, agricultural universities should come together to generate need-based data. in some cases, where private companies are providing services, they also need to collaborate with government institutes. processes: The system as well as processes should be developed so that itthe information delivery is reliable, speedy and need- based. Above all these aspects, the choice of technology and client -centric approach is very important . sapna

Dear all, For an exaple of networking of agricultural markets through a portal in India, see the following link: www. agmarknet.nic.in

Hi! everybody, - I agree that ICT alone cannot solve the problem of endusers and it is one of the helping tools in realisng the goals of Agricultural value chains. - To the question on what needs to be done firstly a bench mark survey needs to be conducted to appraise the existing situation in the villages. - Secondly, a local needs assessment survey has to be conducted by a multidsciplinary team to find out the needs and gaps. - Thirdly, a pre project formulation discussion has to be carried out amongst various stakeholders to formulate an action plan. - Finally, I believe that PPPs ( Public Instituions, Private Instituions, and Peoples/Civil Society Orgainsations ) play an important role in achieving the objective of integrating ICT with agri value chains for solving the problems of farmers. - Farmers need actual information on selection of crops, cropping practices, availbility of technologies and training and market values at national and international level before taking rationale choices. Janaki [quote="michaelriggs"] In response to an item posted in the Reference section: From LEISA MAGAZINE, VOLUME 25, ISSUE 2 "FARMERS AS ENTREPRENEURS" DR. SYED MD. ZAINUL ABEDIN wrote: [quote] Dear Michael, I appreciate this topic.Specific studies on this aspect may be cited for the information of the participants.I feel farmers in developed country with more investment may be more entrepreneurial than the farmers of poor countries.This happens for the improved management support for the farmers and value chains in the developed countries.You may like to agree that the organized value chains are almost non-existent in the poor countries.So,the introduction of value chains in poor countries may be considered as a priority. Thanks in advance for considering the point. Best regards, Zainul [/quote] This raises an important issue. In any complex system, ICT are only one of a set of tools development practitioners have at hand. In many situations ICT alone is not sufficient to address a problem, so we ICT practitioners need to build personal networks with development practitioners from other subjects, and collaborate! :) [/quote]

Dear Raul: I agree with your strategy and want to put emphasis in the "key" topic of incentives. People in general, cannot see clearly the advantages of having information systems at a community (or higher) level. On the other hand, they can calculate inmediatly the costs and time needed to support it. The equation is so bad for ICT promoters, but it changes dramatically if you can demonstrate economical benefits of participating in such effort. For example: a traceability system can grow up prices or open new markets; an intelligent irrigation system can reduce losses and increase water availability for all, it can also let introduce other management practices for better quality. Once u have the "$" incentive, the others can be assimilated fast and better. That considerations leads me to believe that, socio-economic and political issues must be taken in account during the first phase of strategic planning of any ICT major project. Best regards, Marcelo [quote="Raul Hopkins"] [quote="Lisa-Cespedes"] Question 5 (14 Dec.) What suggestions do you have for integrating ICT into agricultural value chain development projects and programs? What consideration must be given to the people, institutions and processes that are impacted by the introduction/use of ICT? [/quote] Yves, Marcelo and Sonigitu have touched the crucial issue of cooperation. What can be done about it? Based on our experience I have four specific suggestions for projects that are integrating ICTs into agricultural value chain initiatives: 1. Map out all the relevant people and institutions that are going to be impacted by the introduction of ICTs (e.g.: farmers' organizations, input suppliers, processors, retailers, public agencies); 2. During the design/formulation phase consult them extensively, promoting a genuine process of sharing and learning from each other; 3. In the implementation phase introduce an appropriate set of incentives where every body has a responsibility; and 4. Promote periodic and transparent mechanisms of communication between stakeholders which helps to build trust and local ownership. Difficult technical problems are easier to overcome when the necessary space for dialogue and learning is created Naturally, it is not always easy to practice all these principles. There is often a tension and trade off between the need to meet pre-established deadlines and to promote a genuine cooperation processes. Developing trust and participation ensures sustainability but takes time! In these matters there are no pre-set recipes. [/quote]