Forum: 2013 CTA ICT OBSERVATORY “Strengthening e-Agriculture Strategies in ACP Countries”
Question 3 (opens 28 Feb.)
13/02/2013
Question 3: What are the key target areas and value chain segments for these e-agriculture strategies? And Why?
Submitted by mawaki chango on Thu, 02/28/2013 - 09:49
Dear All,
We've been having some good discussion so far and I appreciate your valuable and diverse contributions. I hope you stay engaged while we address the third and last question of this week (keeping in mind that we still have three more questions coming up next week.)
What are the key target areas and value chain segments for these e-agriculture strategies? And why?
Wherever you have identified e-agriculture strategies, what are the key areas targeted for changes/transformations/improvements as a result? And what are the segments in any agricultural processes where the strategies are expected to add value? Why are those targets chosen?
Let us hear from your experience and expertise, focusing specifically, please, on this set of questions.
Thank you.
Mawaki
We've been having some good discussion so far and I appreciate your valuable and diverse contributions. I hope you stay engaged while we address the third and last question of this week (keeping in mind that we still have three more questions coming up next week.)
What are the key target areas and value chain segments for these e-agriculture strategies? And why?
Wherever you have identified e-agriculture strategies, what are the key areas targeted for changes/transformations/improvements as a result? And what are the segments in any agricultural processes where the strategies are expected to add value? Why are those targets chosen?
Let us hear from your experience and expertise, focusing specifically, please, on this set of questions.
Thank you.
Mawaki
Submitted by Henry Ligot on Wed, 03/13/2013 - 10:16
In the Philippines, one key segment of the value chain the e-strategy of the Department of Agriculture with the help of private ICT enterprises is targeting is what can be called the KM chain, the transfer of data, information and knowledge from buyers to producers, older to younger farmers, financing sources to farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs, and vice versa. One application that has been operational since 2007 is ePinoyFARMS, a resource management platform that helps farmers, producers and agriculture educators to monitor movements along the whole value chain. The system also allows farmers, young and old, to learn new or review tried and tested agricultural technologies and practices.
Submitted by Henry Ligot on Mon, 05/20/2013 - 19:13
In the Philippines, one key segment of the value chain the e-strategy of the Department of Agriculture with the help of private ICT enterprises is targeting is what can be called the KM chain, the transfer of data, information and knowledge from buyers to producers, older to younger farmers, financing sources to farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs, and vice versa. One application that has been operational since 2007 is ePinoyFARMS, a resource management platform that helps farmers, producers and agriculture educators to monitor movements along the whole value chain. The system also allows farmers, young and old, to learn new or review tried and tested agricultural technologies and practices.
Submitted by Eugene Anakwe on Thu, 02/28/2013 - 11:10
Dear All
Agricultural extension mechanism drives all the value chains in agriculture, e-agriculture should be pivoted on agricultural extension delivery. The segments in the agricultural value chains are interdepent such that a failure in any segment affects the other. e-agriculture or ICT in agricultural should play a role in providing information to strengthen all the segments in the value chain......
Agricultural extension mechanism drives all the value chains in agriculture, e-agriculture should be pivoted on agricultural extension delivery. The segments in the agricultural value chains are interdepent such that a failure in any segment affects the other. e-agriculture or ICT in agricultural should play a role in providing information to strengthen all the segments in the value chain......
Submitted by mawaki chango on Thu, 02/28/2013 - 19:42
You're probably right, Eugene, about the importance of extension delivery in the agricultural value chain. But what are those other segments in the value chain (in cases of e-agriculture startegies you may be thinking of) and key target areas? Please also see my next entry to the general forum.
Submitted by Peter Balaba on Tue, 03/05/2013 - 07:02
Mr. Eugene, I buy your idea but the question is how can the exention officer be motivated to deliver their work to maximum expectation? is our governments aware of their poor performance? and if they do or not I think there must be a clear policy on Agricultural extension service delivery.
And your focus on the intergration of ICT is very brilliant since mobile phones, Internet and Community radios are rapidly penetrating the far reached areas. However, packaging formats should also be put into consideration ( ICTs should be easy to use and interactive enough)
And your focus on the intergration of ICT is very brilliant since mobile phones, Internet and Community radios are rapidly penetrating the far reached areas. However, packaging formats should also be put into consideration ( ICTs should be easy to use and interactive enough)
Submitted by zainul DR. SYED MD. ZAINUL ABEDIN on Tue, 03/05/2013 - 10:03
Agricultural extension service delivery is very important for e-agriculture interventions to be successful.
I like to know how the agricultural extension service delivery operates.
I like to know how the agricultural extension service delivery operates.
Submitted by Eugene Anakwe on Tue, 03/05/2013 - 14:38
Basically, agricultural extension delivery is the development of good agricultural practices, market and input informations into packages for agricultural extension agents to delivery to farmers in different value chains, it does not work in isolation to agricultural research. it is a knowledge transfer from research to farmers and now with the value chain approach it moves further down to processing, to kitchen, to market, to tables, etc..
Submitted by Mary Rucibigango on Wed, 03/06/2013 - 13:08
Yes! investing in e agriculture is on way of making agricultural service delivery effective, because the element of time and quality of information is dealt with.
Submitted by Eugene Anakwe on Tue, 03/05/2013 - 14:35
Extension agents need mobility, capacity building coordination and remuneration . Extension agents involvement in agriculture should be driven from the community, that is the bottom approach of CDD. Local institutions and private organizations should be involved. Most importantly extension agents can be trained to offer paid services.
On the value chain strategies in e-agriculture, Nigeria is operating the e-wallet system for input delivery known as GES. It can be expanded to include GAP, which some practitioners like myself are thinking of developing, which include developing EA-Farmers' link database to be hosted on a web portal. EA means extension agents.
On the value chain strategies in e-agriculture, Nigeria is operating the e-wallet system for input delivery known as GES. It can be expanded to include GAP, which some practitioners like myself are thinking of developing, which include developing EA-Farmers' link database to be hosted on a web portal. EA means extension agents.
Submitted by Moses Nganwani Tia on Thu, 02/28/2013 - 11:37
The following are the very key target areas and value chain segments that the e-agriculture strategies in the ACP countries should consider:
- Agricultural Advisory (Extension) services.
- Market Access for farmers and other Agricultural value chain actors.
- e-agriculture financing for Agriculture value chain actors.
- Weather updates.
- e-agriculture training toolkit for:Youth in Agriculture,Agribusiness,Climate Change Adaptive Agriculture,Women in Agriculture etc.
These key target areas/value chain segments are cardinal for accelerated Agricultural and Rural Development in the ACP nations.
Furthermore,these key target areas will also harness the value of ICT for national development and thus propel the development of ICT4D in the ACP.
Submitted by mawaki chango on Thu, 02/28/2013 - 19:34
Nganwani,
Do you know of e-agriculture strategies (or ICT Policy chapter on agriculture) that actually have those key target areas and value chain segments?
If no, at least you could please elaborate a bit more on the rationale of your targets.
In general, beyond the conceptualization level, we would like to hear primarily about what is actually happening in the countries and related issues as experienced on the ground.
Thanks
Do you know of e-agriculture strategies (or ICT Policy chapter on agriculture) that actually have those key target areas and value chain segments?
If no, at least you could please elaborate a bit more on the rationale of your targets.
In general, beyond the conceptualization level, we would like to hear primarily about what is actually happening in the countries and related issues as experienced on the ground.
Thanks
Submitted by Peter Balaba on Thu, 02/28/2013 - 20:44
Nganwani, you have pointed out some good points and I would like just to add something especailly on Pest control and Soil management which is affecting production in agriculture. Farmers need a lot of support from the exention providers and researchers.
developing countries must have a clear strategy to reduce the information gaps between the exention workers and farmers. And once farmers are given all the necessary technical support. they will have no big trouble of accessing good markets.
developing countries must have a clear strategy to reduce the information gaps between the exention workers and farmers. And once farmers are given all the necessary technical support. they will have no big trouble of accessing good markets.
Submitted by mawaki chango on Thu, 02/28/2013 - 19:51
Dear all,
So far I note that the responses tend to be prescriptive/normative, in the form of "this is what should be." Two things:
1) The question refers to "these e-agriculture strategies" as referenced in the previous question, that is, examples of national strategies you may know of. In other words, it is more desirable that you address things that are, as they are.
2) In the unlikely case you don't have any examples at hand or in case you just really want to make a conceptual or normative contribution, then I would appreciate you do it in such a way to convince your readers about why you think some things SHOULD be as you say.
Thanks,
Mawaki
So far I note that the responses tend to be prescriptive/normative, in the form of "this is what should be." Two things:
1) The question refers to "these e-agriculture strategies" as referenced in the previous question, that is, examples of national strategies you may know of. In other words, it is more desirable that you address things that are, as they are.
2) In the unlikely case you don't have any examples at hand or in case you just really want to make a conceptual or normative contribution, then I would appreciate you do it in such a way to convince your readers about why you think some things SHOULD be as you say.
Thanks,
Mawaki
Submitted by Moses Nganwani Tia on Fri, 03/01/2013 - 15:17
Dear Mawaki,
The Key target areas i raised are not conceptual.As earlier stated,my organization is currently implementing the Audio Conferencing for Agricultural Extension (ACE) project.This directly relates to my point on e-Agriculture targeting Agricultural Extension.
Furthermore, ESOKO in Ghana which is one of our partners is also running projects on SMS alerts for farmers on various issues in Agriculture such as
1.Market access
2.Cultural practices in Farming etc.
Also, M-Banking is commonly used by many farmers in Ghana to recieve and transfer money to facilitate the success of their Agribusiness.
These and many are the on going e-agriculture activities running across the Agricultural Value Chain in Ghana.
The issues raised are therefore not conceptual as you perceieved.
Submitted by Moses Nganwani Tia on Fri, 03/01/2013 - 15:32
Dear Mawaki,
The Key target areas i raised are not conceptual.As earlier stated,my organization is currently implementing the Audio Conferencing for Agricultural Extension (ACE) project.This directly relates to my point on e-Agriculture targeting Agricultural Extension.
Furthermore, ESOKO in Ghana which is one of our partners is also running projects on SMS alerts for farmers on various issues in Agriculture such as
1.Market access
2.Cultural practices in Farming etc.
Also, M-Banking is commonly used by many farmers in Ghana to recieve and transfer money to facilitate the success of their Agribusiness.
These and many are the on going e-agriculture activities running across the Agricultural Value Chain in Ghana.
The issues raised are therefore not conceptual as you perceieved.
Submitted by mawaki chango on Fri, 03/01/2013 - 23:59
Dear Nganwani,
Thank you for that clarification. My misperception came from the fact that you mentioned those were the key TAs and VCSs that *should* be considered while the origin of those choices was not made explicit in your post. What do you or does Esoko mean by "cultural practices in farming"?
Thanks
Thank you for that clarification. My misperception came from the fact that you mentioned those were the key TAs and VCSs that *should* be considered while the origin of those choices was not made explicit in your post. What do you or does Esoko mean by "cultural practices in farming"?
Thanks
Submitted by Emmanuel Suka on Sat, 03/02/2013 - 14:06
Dear All,
Greetings to you all. My observation is that ACP member countries lack an e-agriculture market to sell their agricultural products. My suggestion is that an e-agriculture market be created and furnished with latest market updates and other market information from other ACP countries and abroad accessable to farmers and other participants. This will attract lots of people to e-agriculture, as most people have their products and do not have a better choice and means of exchanging them for more rewarding prizes abroad or maybe just to make a market choice depending on different country agricultural products rates. This will be a good incentive for people to take advantage of and exploit the e-agriculture plantform.
This suggestion is forward in response to question 3.
Thanks,
Emmanuel
Greetings to you all. My observation is that ACP member countries lack an e-agriculture market to sell their agricultural products. My suggestion is that an e-agriculture market be created and furnished with latest market updates and other market information from other ACP countries and abroad accessable to farmers and other participants. This will attract lots of people to e-agriculture, as most people have their products and do not have a better choice and means of exchanging them for more rewarding prizes abroad or maybe just to make a market choice depending on different country agricultural products rates. This will be a good incentive for people to take advantage of and exploit the e-agriculture plantform.
This suggestion is forward in response to question 3.
Thanks,
Emmanuel
Submitted by mawaki chango on Sat, 03/02/2013 - 18:59
Emmanuel's post has brought to my mind a variety of constraints related to building an effective market place. We may well talk about e-agriculture, etc. but at the end of the day, goods (crops, produces, etc.) have to be moved around when it comes to agricultural market transactions (but not only...)
Are physical and administrative infrastructures to facilitate such movements specifically addressed in the national e-strategies you know of?
What about electronic payment infrastructures to enable (specifically in the agricultural sector) secure payments to parties at distance and indeed in different countries?
Are physical and administrative infrastructures to facilitate such movements specifically addressed in the national e-strategies you know of?
What about electronic payment infrastructures to enable (specifically in the agricultural sector) secure payments to parties at distance and indeed in different countries?
Submitted by Keron Bascombe on Tue, 03/05/2013 - 01:08
Dear Moses
Thanks for all the information. You're points are well received. Very little of what you have pointed out is beign implemented in the Caribbean. Unfortunately agri extension has fallen and is not as vibrant as it used to be. There are private stakeholders that make the effort to better farmers and other stakeholders but most government based extension officers face severe issues with regards to the lack of resources and technical capapbilities. Much of their work falls on record keeping and promoting business products (i.e. pesticides etc)
However those private stakeholders that do make a difference focus on developmental initiatives rather traditional extension services. Experiential learning and practical application are key in such work. This is evident in examples by other participants in the forum especially in Africa. Each of the aforementioned areas are important but I'd encourage the though of local sustainable development as part of the overall strategy.
Thanks for all the information. You're points are well received. Very little of what you have pointed out is beign implemented in the Caribbean. Unfortunately agri extension has fallen and is not as vibrant as it used to be. There are private stakeholders that make the effort to better farmers and other stakeholders but most government based extension officers face severe issues with regards to the lack of resources and technical capapbilities. Much of their work falls on record keeping and promoting business products (i.e. pesticides etc)
However those private stakeholders that do make a difference focus on developmental initiatives rather traditional extension services. Experiential learning and practical application are key in such work. This is evident in examples by other participants in the forum especially in Africa. Each of the aforementioned areas are important but I'd encourage the though of local sustainable development as part of the overall strategy.
Submitted by Henry Ligot on Tue, 03/05/2013 - 11:32
In the Philippines, one key segment of the value chain the e-strategy of the Department of Agriculture with the help of private ICT enterprises is targeting is what can be called the KM chain, the transfer of data, information and knowledge from buyers to producers, older to younger farmers, financing sources to farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs, and vice versa. One application that has been operational since 2007 is ePinoyFARMS, a resource management platform that helps farmers, producers and agriculture educators to monitor movements along the whole value chain. The system also allows farmers, young and old, to learn new or review tried and tested agricultural technologies and practices.
Henry
Henry
Submitted by zainul DR. SYED MD. ZAINUL ABEDIN on Tue, 03/05/2013 - 12:08
This is very interesting to learn important aspects of e-strategy of Philippines.
Submitted by Henry Ligot on Wed, 03/06/2013 - 02:32
Here's the link for those who want some more information on the 5 years our Ministry of Agriculture has been on this project: http://ati.da.gov.ph/ati2/blog/joserey-alo/2012/e-learning-numbers
The growth is quite impressive, since this makes knowledge available to anyone with a telecom connection, which private sector telcos are deploying nationwide.
The growth is quite impressive, since this makes knowledge available to anyone with a telecom connection, which private sector telcos are deploying nationwide.
Submitted by mawaki chango on Wed, 03/06/2013 - 10:00
Hello,
At this point in time, I would encourage everyone to move forward and address this week questions (# 4, 5 and 6). This is a limited-time exercise, in terms of addressing specifically the set of 6 questions put forward. I am sure the discussion will go on, notably with the upcoming Observatory and the WSIS process. However for the purposes of reporting on the discussion of those six questions, only the answers posted by Friday night, your time, are most likely to shape the report. Therefore I would appreciate you spend some time to reply to Questions 4, 5 and 6 by then.
Obviously, you may still post here even during the remainder of this last week of the current debate, but hopefully after you have given some thought and posted on the last three questions mentioned above.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Mawaki
At this point in time, I would encourage everyone to move forward and address this week questions (# 4, 5 and 6). This is a limited-time exercise, in terms of addressing specifically the set of 6 questions put forward. I am sure the discussion will go on, notably with the upcoming Observatory and the WSIS process. However for the purposes of reporting on the discussion of those six questions, only the answers posted by Friday night, your time, are most likely to shape the report. Therefore I would appreciate you spend some time to reply to Questions 4, 5 and 6 by then.
Obviously, you may still post here even during the remainder of this last week of the current debate, but hopefully after you have given some thought and posted on the last three questions mentioned above.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Mawaki
Submitted by Eugene Anakwe on Wed, 03/06/2013 - 13:13
e-agricultural policy should target:1 Networking of input providers (agrodealers) to farmers through mapping of agrodealers to farmers in their areas; 2.Networking of producers (farmers) to manufacturers and processors; and 3. networking of processors and retailers. This will require linking of databases of agro-dealers, farmers, processors and retailers and developling a platform for communicating especially through cellphones, village cafe or farmers e-kiosks. Because, the value chain concept is market driven, the tendency to have manufacturers support e-extension to drive productivity could be high.