Question 1: What roles does ICT play in producer organizations? Support examples with specific reference to an organization, the technology tool(s), and content delivered.
- How can ICT facilitate accountability and transparency among members of an organization and between different organizations?
- How can ICT facilitate climate change adaptation among members of an organization and the rural communities where the organization is active?
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Very useful information, thanks.
Dolores, I think your point is well taken. The role of ICT as a learning tool, rather than as a tool for cummunication has been under-emphasized. Unfortunately the vast majority of the potential learners out in rural areas are either illiterate or possess only minimal literacy, numeracy and business management skills. While multi-media approaches are effective, they are also very expensive. Voice-based ICT approaches (rural radio and mobile phones, or a combination of both to promote inter-activity probably make more sense as a tool for reaching and involving the vast majority.
Yes John Rouse, your opinion is perfectly right. Not all those in the rural areas have access to modern technologies particularly the used of Internet, computers and other modern devices even they may have the knowledge but socio-geographical under developed situation and economic factors could be the hindrances for the prospective farmers and producers or people in that rural or developing regions to highly log on to the practice of technological advancement in this matter. I agree with you and with Bryan and Dr. Sandy that there are other means of disseminating information such as the use of the traditional ones in media practice, the radio and the common patronage of the public, the television and the cellular phone or promoting circulated printed materials could be of help.
To disseminate agricultural information and technology updates efficiently and effectively, the Department of Agriculture makes use of the quadmedia (radio, print, television and internet). So, it's a combination of the use of modern ICTs and the traditional media to reach the vast number of farmers and agriculture stakeholders including those living in the far-flung areas. Barangay Agricultural Information Centers (BAICs) are established in partnership with the rural communities, with DA providing IEC materials while the barangay providing the building and takes charge of the maintenance of the BAIC. BAIC is effective in serving the information needs of the rural residents. We also have radio and television agri programs. For the use of ICTs, we have the Farmers Contact Centers and the Farmers Information Technology Services Centers, among others. We also make use of the face-to-face contacts like the conduct of farmers' forum, congresses, cliniquing, information caravan, consultations, farm visit and other means. We also utilize the Local Farmer Technicians, the Magsasakang Siyentista, State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), NGOs, CSOs, POs and the private sector to help us in disseminating information and extending services to our farmers. Public-private partnership is DA's major strategy in implementing programs and projects for optimum results and sustainability. - Joyce Wendam
Hi Adrian,
The way I perceive it, and from what we have been taught during our DevCom days, ICT need not be complex or inaccessible high-technology. Community radio operated by DevCom practitioners can be considered as ICT with agricultural communities at the receiving end. Fliers, bulletins, and simple brochures written in the local tongue about the latest farming technology can also be considered as ICT. If many of those in the agricultural sector are illiterate, then posters and training sessions could be the medium of choice.
Bry
Hi Bryan!
I agree with you!
I wanted to say that in my initial post, that technology doesn't have to be high-tech as there are other forms of technology which can be used to bridge the gap between the producers and farmers, especially in marketing their produce.
The traditional media technology can still serve its purpose to benefit the farmers on their end, and there are various creative ways to elicit farmers' participation so as to move them towards better market opportunities.
Hello Bry, I agree with your position on the matter and must I add a very important approach in this direction. That is, the use of popular language or the simple non technical tone which can be easily understood by even the poorest farmers marginalized in education.
Yes, Andy; this brings to mind delivery mechanisms (technology and offered language options). The use of popular language, local language or the simple non-technical tone I think is central to the usefulness of ICT within the agricultural development context.
Yes Arnel, like what some of us agree that we are now in the era of ICT's process of transition, ICT migration from analog to digital, how much more human being are also greatly affected of the movement and development of time, modernization and globalization. Yes, the old generation according to Fr. Gigi is of his heartfelt concern for the proposal of a new paradigm shift with the new culture of ICT, I also side in your opinion that using local language as medium of instruction or delivering information to the local is significant in order to be more effective in giving instruction and information. This is not to underestimate the capacity of our fellows in adjusting languages, but as we can see most of our radio and television stations in the rural areas are adapting their own local languages, and I noticed this practice in some parts of the Philippines. Yes, maybe in addition is to improve more the use of own language in the printed materials and news information publications in the local setting. I appreciate your idea.
Yes Sister., end-users/farmers/individuals relate better to content they can understand; studies report that the local language is always being preferred for the obvious reason that it gives them the capacity to assess, apply and act upon the information provided. That's one feature of one of the ICT projects in Indian agriculture in the case study of Glendenning and Ficarelli (2011)- aAqua (almost All questions answered) with textual content stored in a language independent fashion which enables users to assess, apply, and apply and use content/knowledge/information because it can be accessed in their preferred language.
Simple, but true defination when put against rural poor or subsistent agriculture.
I agree with you, Bryan that community radio, fliers, bulletins, and simple brochures written in the local tongue about the latest farming technology can also be considered as ICT but maybe we should also consider the use of ICT as a medium for saving lives and properties of farmers and other stakeholders during El Nino forecasts or disaster alerts which was earlier mentioned by Dr. Flor. This is critical and ICT is very vital more so in a country, like Philippines.
Good point Bry, it can be done.
Hi, Adrian. Ten years ago, an FAO Expert's meeting held in Bangkok declared that information and communicati0on technology has elements of both: the old and the new; the conventional and the sophisticated; the analog and the digital. Hence, we still consider community radio as ICT. Nevertheless, you know as well as I do that 10 out of 10 farming households in the Philippines have mobile phones. We can assume that among farmer's associations, the majority of its members carry mobile phones in their back pockets or skirt pockets.
Dr. Sandy,
I have to agree on this. Two weeks ago, I personally visited our farm in Nueva Ecija to observe the harvest season. In the old days, you need to individually visit the members of the harvest team before you can actually start harvesting and other post-harvest priocesses.
Now, all you have to do is to send an SMS message to potential members of the harvest team! I noted that during breaks, the farmers no longer operate their transistor radios. They are no more fond of sending SMS to their loved ones (children based in Manila, wife working in the poblacion, drinking buddies, etc).
Time have really changed. The mobile phone has become the greatest equalizer!
Dear all,
Producer organisations can use technology to enhance their business. However, technology alone cannot solve all the problems. There are usually other key ingredients on which technology is dependant on. For instance in Zambia we are piloting a market information system called LimaLinks between producer organisations and market agents.
We have realised that using the application alone is not enough but mending previous bottlenecks in their business transactions which all hinge on honest and trust. So we are building that confidence and trust by engaging these partners to look at the previous misunderstanding and find solutions before they can use technology to facilitate business transactions. Need more contributions
Richard yona- Sangonet
Hi Richard. Thanks for sharing this. Could you tell us more about LimaLinks? What is the ICT in the market information system? Also how long has it been active and what are the organizations that are involved?
Hi!
You raised a very interesting concern on how farmers will have access and/or benefit from ICT.
I came across some information that hopefully can address your concern. It might be similar to the information shared by some forum members. Anyway, I got the information from one of the study tours of my former organization doing training and consulting. I would like to share some information on the e-Extension Program for Agriculture and Fisheries. It is a program of the Department of Agriculture (DA) Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), DA Bureau of Agricultural Research, and the Department of Science and Technology Philippine Council for Agricultural, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development. An aim of the program is to create an electronic or interactive bridge/means where farmers and related stakeholders can enhance productivity, profitability, and global competitiveness (ATI, 2011). The general idea is to make information on agricultural marketing, business advisory, farming and fishing technologies, and other beneficial information to farmers and fishermen available through their Farmer’s Contact Center which can be reached using telephone, text messages, and e-mail. The numbers and e-mail are written on a brochure. The brochures with related information I understand to reach the farmers and fishermen is through the Extension Workers and DA/ATI regional/provincial offices.
Hope the information could be of help!
Agricultural Training Institute. (2011). e any place any time for agriculture and fisheries. (Edition Number II). Brochure. Natividad, Benedict C.: Managing Editor.
Dear all,
Producer organisations can use technology to enhance their business. However, technology a lone cannot solve all the problems. There are usually other key ingridients on which technology is dependant on. For instance in Zambia we are piloting a market information system called LimaLinks between producer organisations and market agents. We have realised that using the application alone is not enough but mending previous bottlenecks in their business transactions which all hinge on honest and trust. So we are building that confidence and trust by engaging these partners to look at the previous misunderstanding and find solutions before they can use technology to facilitate business transactions.
Need more contributions
Richard yona- Sangonet
I believe that it would be a very exciting and interesting forum. Though I am not directly involved in the agriculture sector, I will be benefited or affected by whatever outcomes this have for us; no matter what happens is unquestionably of importance as I am a consumer. I understand that farmers are key persons in the attainment of a conserved and well used farming resources that we have in the Philippines. There are already a lot of studies and practices done and implemented just to have sustainable development in the agriculture operations but problems are recurring. Yes, I agree that works could be improved with the use of ICT but moreso is the need for collaborative efforts from the government and non governmental offices and the intelligent citizenry, to make as great as possible, the state of growth in the agriculture sector.
As a consumer you have a very important role for producer organizations as farmers should produce the food as demanded by consumers. Therefore ICT can be an extremely powerful tool to help consumers and organized agricultural producers talk to each other. The consumer should inform producers about the quality they want to have and the producers should produce what is demanded by the consumers. Very often the dialogue with consumers is the monopole of the retailors (big and small). ICT can help improve transparency of the dialogue between consumers, retailors and producers.
Thanks Mr Pierre for this reply.
ICT is indeed a tool of communication and dialogue between farmers and consumers.
It is also a channel to raise awareneess about the costs of agricultural products in various localities.
Regards.
Hi Kelly, like you from the perspective of user (consumer), engaging in this forum is not only an interesting task but it is indeed worthwhile. In my reflection, it is a sort of reminding us to go back to our root, to value our ecological sphere, the mother earth that is given to us to cultivate and to harvest for our own life sustenance. Personally, this forum captures the inspiration to reflect the abundance of grains we take every single day through the greatest efforts and hard labors of our beloved farm's producers, who most of the time, offered their heavy sweats and sacrifices in order to produce food supplies for many. While I appreciate this forum, I also think that the agricultural sector in our country (Philippines) must be enhanced with their needs to progress for they deserve to learn with the use of advanced technology not simply to remain recipients of information but also they can be developed and become potential sources of information, knowledge and learning too, once they progressively acquired the expertise and familiarity. Again, in the reality, this reflection could be a process, but there is nothing impossible when all sectors, both the governments and non-governments are in solidarity and in communion with one common concern.
Information Communication technology now becomes a vital tool for development. Although Agriculture has been a field since time immemorial we cannot deny the fact that it is still extremely important in today's society. Using ICT for development enhances agriculture and rural development by means of improving the process of communication and even through innovation. Integral in any field, even in agriculture is knowing how to use technology for innovation and information dissemination.
Nicely put, Lalaine. These points are mirrored in Module 8 of the the World Bank's ICT in Agriculture Sourcebook, which is downloadable. I wonder if you can share personal experiences of farmer's organizations working better with ICT.
Dear Dr. Flor,
Honestly, I have no idea and experience whatsoever as regards farmers' organization working together with ICT. What I have shared in my previous response was just my own personal opinion as regards the significance of ICT in agriculture. Although, my orientation in DevComm might help. Meantime, I think, one of my students from years back did a study on the plightof farmers in Nueva Ecija. This I will have to check again and share with your the results.
ICT can be an empowerment tool in the hands of farmers. An example is farmers in Kenya who are now calling a call center where agricultural experts discuss with them in a language they can understand questions that directly affect their farming. This helps the farmers make informed decisions to maximize the productivity and profits of their farms. The project, though a pilot project, called the Kenya Farmers’ Helpline, is funded by a Rockefeller Foundation grant through the GSMA Foundation, Inc. This way, the mobile phone empowers the farmer in whatever remote area of the country s/he is. http://www.m-kilimo.com/media-centre/12-kenya-farmers-helpline
Another project is the M-Farm’s mobile app which gives price information to farmers. This ICT brings transparency in agricultural trading by empowering the rural farmer to get the best price for their farm produce, what markets to go to and when. This gets rid of crooked middlemen who have been fleecing farmers for many years by buying their produce at a loss as the farmers didn’t know the prices in the market. At times this would force farmers who needed money to settle urgent bills like school fees or medical bills sell produce at throw away prices to make just a few shillings. But this is now a thing of the past for many. Through M-Farm, if a farmer wants to know the price of tomatoes in Nairobi, they send a text message with the word “Price Tomatoes Nairobi” to “3555”. They get an instant message giving them the price of tomatoes in Nairobi. This gives them power to negotiate for better prices and make decisions when and where to sell their produce. http://mfarm.co.ke/blog/post/how-to-water-crops-with-a-mobile-phone
Hi Anne!
Speaking of ICT as tool for empowering farmers in your place, I had just finished reading a local study conducted here in our country entitled: Electronic Information Dissemination through the Farmers Information and Technology Services (FITS)/Techno Pinoy Program: Bringing Information and Technology Within the Reach of the Farmers (http://www.afita.org/files/web_structure/20110302115147_701535/20110302…). This more or less harps on the empowerment of farmers brought about by Information Technology. It is very interesting to note that here in the Philippines there is this Techno Pinoy program that utilizes information technology (IT) as a tool to fast track dissemination of agriculture and natural resources information and technologies to farmers. The discussions specifically deal with two(2) IT-based projects namely: Development of FITS Information System and Packaging and Dissemination of Techno Pinoy CD. FITS is a strategy conceptualized in 1995 by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD), a sectoral council of the Department of Science and Technology mandated to coordinate and monitor R and D for agriculture, forestry and natural resources (AFNR). More popularly known and promoted as Techno Pinoy in the local scene, the Program is an information and technology service center, a resource center and a dynamic feedback mechanism. The FITS Information System is composed of seven (7) major databases namely: technology,experts’ profile, farmers; profile, contact firms, trade/production statistics, publication, and video materials. The CDs produced and released under the program became very in demand that the material is undergoing enhancement , thus, a second CD is in the offing.
Hi Dolores,
This is similar to what is happening in Kenya.
Thanks
Anne
Hi Anne,
You mentioned how ICT prevents exploitative middlemen from getting into the picture. I agree with you, earlier, I mentioned how ICT is able to prevent exploitation by producer organizations of resource managers. In this situation, resource managers can evolve and become producer organizations themselves without the need to link up with an external producer organization. On the outset, resource managers who do not have the capability to evolve into producer organizations could use ICT to determine the best producer organization for their resources. ICT, in this respect, does not only empower the resource manager but the producer organization as well.
Hi Bryan,
This is very true.
Anne
Dear Anne
Thanks for this excellent example of how ICT can help farmers better negotiate prices or have access to knowledge through a help line.
I have a question. Who is managing the call centers the farmers can call for advices or for prices? Is this a free service? Is this service delivered by a farmers organization to members or by a private firm to every body or by Government?
Thanks in advance
Pierre
Dear Pierre,
The call centre is managed by KenCall the biggest call centre in the country with the help of a grant from the Rockefeller Foundation. When the farmers call, they are connected to an agricultural expert who is answers all their queries.
The call center also keeps a data base of these subsistence farmers. It is a free service and gives them advice on best farming practices, with an aim of helping the farmers to increase their yields and boost the profits from both their livestock and crops.
This project aims to provide the farmers with vital and timely information throughout the planting, harvesting and marketing seasons.
Hi Anne. In the Philippines, in order for information to reach the majority of the farmers including those living in the far-flung areas, the Department of Agriculture (DA) through the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) has launched last year the Farmers Contact Center (FCC) which functions similarly to the Kenya Farmers' Helpline. Through the FCC, farmers and fishers can inquire on agri/fishery-related concerns via voice (call), short messaging service (SMS or text) as well as emails and other online communication platforms like instant messaging and the different forums. Immediate responses are being given to the queries of the farmers/fishers. All they have to do is Call 982 AGRI (2474) in Metro Manila; 1800982 AGRI (2472) in the provinces or Text 391 DA (32) for Smart, Talk & Text; 0920946 AGRI (2474) for Globe, TM, or SUN or EMAIL: [email protected]. But one issue here as regards the use of mobile phones and internet is connectivity. - Joyce Wendam
Hi Joyce,
I totally agree with you. When the mobile phone in a farmers hands can help him/her get information that will improve their farming methods or how they get their products to the market should be enhanced. I believe that the mobile telephony providers can go a step further and ensure proper and strong connectivity where the signals are weak.
The government can step in like in the case of Kenya by ensuring that there is proper infrastructure. There is no need of improving yields and yet the roads are impassable. Or farmers increasing milk yields but have no electricity to power coolers that can prolong the milks life.
Anne
Since we are globally networked through ICT, producer organizations are into it. For one, it is a source of data gathering to know even from the voice of the farmers the gaps in scaling up with the trends in farming and other activities necessary in the development of their work for only the farmers can really articulate their struggles and challenges in the projects designed by the institution. In the Including Smallholders in the Agricultural Research for Development (INSARD) Consortium, another problem mentioned is the lack of democracy among farmers for they have differing concerns and not encouraged to speak out. ICT could also be used to partner with the farmers in order to break the gaps mentioned. This is one way in setting up priorities, ensuring the efficiency of the research-driven projects, and delivering the program with easiness and assurance. The sharing of information through radio is indeed very useful as radios are still being used now with convenience that farmers can learn while working. Though I may say that some farmers would just be listening as they probably don’t have the means to communicate whatever they have in mind.
Reference: http://paepard.blogspot.com/
Kelly
The World Food Summit defines the four pillars of food security as availability, access, utilization and stability. A fifth, widely under-recognized pillar is proposed by the UN Environment Programme – ecological foundations, which include soil formation, nutrient recycling, on-farm and off-farm biodiversity, and climate condition (UNEP, Avoiding Future Famine, 2012).
The concern being raised is that we are undermining these ecological foundations. Conventional agricultural practices, for example, such a monocropping lead to biodiversity losses on the farms thus resulting in weakened resilience of crops to pests and diseases. Excessive tillage causes soil carbon loss while high fertilizer loading causes groundwater contamination. Pesticide contamination can destroy organisms responsible for pollination of crops or natural pest control.
More ecologically conducive approaches to farming -- improved soil management, integrated pest management, agroforestry, and biodiversity conservation -- can help reduce the impact of farming activities on natural resources.
Farmer organizations are very effective platforms for the exchange of information and best practices on these approaches. The Farmer-to-Farmer Program (Programa de Campesino a Campesino) in Siuna, Nicaragua, for example, builds local producer capacity by providing technical assistance in soil conservation, rehabilitation, and erosion control. The organization uses ICT to conduct farm and soil mapping which enables more informed land use planning and helps identify problem areas or if farming is encroaching in the high-conservation value areas of the nearby Bosawa’s Biosphere Reserve. Data collection for the mapping system also significantly incorporates inputs from the ‘horizontal’ exchange between farmers – a reaction to the traditionally vertical pedagogical approach to knowledge transfer in Nicaragua (www.equatorinitiative.org).
The Pholas Orientalis is a bivalve endemic to the Island of Panay and mostly in the City of Roxas, Capiz, Philippines. It is locally known as diwal or the angel wing and is a sought after delicacy because of its distinct sweet flesh. In the late 90s, overharvesting and environmental factors caused the populations of the bivalve to dwindle drastically. Through the efforts of then, Mayor Antonio del Rosario, studies were conducted together with UPV and SEAFDEC which resulted in the resurgence of bivalve populations. The return of the bivalve prompted the local government to establish a Diwal Farmers and Harvesters Organization which consisted of divers who harvested the bivalve, coastal folk earning their livelihood from selling the bivalve, and divers who have been trained in the seeding and preservation process of the bivalve. With the producer organization in place, ICT has been a resource that proved to be inevitable. There have been many instances of unauthorized harvesting of the bivalve because now, harvesting it required permits from the local government unit. ICT provided the organization with a means to rapidly contact the coast guard to respond promptly to unauthorized harvest operations and illegal fishing practices that have been known to damage the habitat of the bivalve. Mobile technology facilitated quick reporting and response times. In addition, since the bivalve is not well-known, the internet has provided a means to promote it again via the posting of events such as a Diwal Festival which drew in people from all over the country. However, these are just the short termed results of ICT in the organization. Now, with access to internet, the organization has become more aware of how valued the bivalve is all over the country and have developed a deeper sense of accountability for their product. While their intention was to protect the bivalve because this was their source of livelihood, their awareness of the value of the diwal had prompted them to be more environmentally responsible so as not to damage their livelihood. In addition, they have also become more vigilant in guarding against potential threats to the coastal environment primarily because they were aware of the repercussions should environmental damage corrupt the breeding ground of their prized bivalve. Mobile technology has also allowed them to constantly report on bivalve populations, harvest volumes, and potential harvests facilitating effective and real-time monitoring and assessment as well as transparency in their operations considering that they are, in part, an organization supported by the local government unit.
Hi, Bry. I guess the case that you shared with us highlights the difference between producers and resource managers, particularly in the marine or fisheries sector. Marine products are harvested but need not be produced or cultured. Nevertheless, producers need to become resource managers and vice versa since the link between food security and resource management has been underscored in these times of climate variability, extremes and uncertainty. The sharing and reuse of climate change knowledge through ICT may facilitate in the convergence of roles among producers and resource managers.
Yes sir, it helps to point out also that ICT could provide the sometimes non-existent connection between resource managers and producers allowing a more efficient and more practical relationship. This link could also be a means of preventing exploitation of resource managers by producers.
Bry
ICT facilitate climate change adaptation among members of the Samahan ng Maliliit na Mangingisda ng Calatagan (Organization of Small Fishermen in Calatagan, a first class municipality in Batangas, Philippines) when their organization showed awarenes of environmental concerns that directly affect their livelihood and their commitment to do their share in protecting the coastal resources. The organization used mobile phones and social media to create awareness about the concerns of the locality regarding illegal extraction of coral, illegal conversion of mangroves to fishponds, the threat of mining operations, their opposition to the illegal land reclamation and their campaign against improper garbage disposal. Because of their efforts, private individuals and organizations including the ESSC tried to help in the regeneration of mangroves and beach forest. Similar smaller initiatives have now emerged in other parts of the Philippines.
Hi Corazon, this is very intersting. Is there any information on how long this organization has been using ICT and social media?
Also, what is the ESSC?
Thanks :)
Hello Michael,
ESSC stands for Environmental Science for Social Change, a Jesuit research institute in the Philippines that promotes environmental sustainability and social justice through the integration of scientific methodologies and social process. The organization of Small Fishers of Calatagan used ICT in 2007 and social media in 2009. Calatagan, Batangas, Philippines is now a marine reserve and ICT and social media helped tremendously in creating awareness .
Koy
Reference:
In the Philippines, there is an abundance of agricultural cooperatives and I am happy to note that they are starting to embrace ICT. This is good news considering the fact that 10 years ago, the villages where these agricultural cooperatives are located were not yet energized.
The Caridad Sur Farmers Cooperative is located in the municipality of Llanera, Province of Nueva Ecija. Two years ago, the cooperative decided to purchase a personal computer in order to improve its record and bookkeeping functions. Littler did the members thought that this new hardware will usher the cooperative in the new era of information revolution.
The cooperative was able to develop its own website where the treasurer and auditor regularly post the financial statements of the cooperative. This ensured transparency in the fiscal affairs of the coopertative.
The leaders of the cooperative also took advantage of the new technology in educating the members. Thanks to the Open University of the nearby state agricultural university, members were able to enrol basic courses in rice production, bookkeeping, community development.
With the devolution of the extension delivery system to local government units, the Philippine Department of Agriculture can tap local coopertives in disseminating new agricultural technologies!
IRRI is located in the Philippines and yet up to now, the country is not yet self-sufficient in rice production. Maybe the use of ICT in local agricultural cooperatives can help improve efficiency in rice production.
Just thinking aloud.
I noticed that BS Agriculture students in the Philippines are required to take the following basic courses, in addition to the general education requirements (humanities, social sciences, math and sciences), before they can specialize: Principles of Crop Science, Fundamentals of Animal Science, Introductory Soil Science, Basic Pest Management, Agricultural Mechanics, Farm Management, Extension Teaching and Communication.
Why not update the curriculum and include subjects such as ICT for agriculture as a mandatory basic subject.
There is common notion here in the Philippines that the BS Agriculture course is not a glamorouse course. Why not re-package the degree to entice more students so that we can have more entrepreneurs and/or advocates of bio-enterprise development.
Hi Michael. We in the e-Agriculture Team would agree that ICT in agriculture is an important part of any formal curriculum. (We might be biased!) Important enough that it probably deserves its own dedicated forum. Let's keep our convesation here focused on producer organizations. :)
I agree with you that curriculum in agriculture needed to be revisited and I also believe that Agricultural Universities/schools' management are tailoring the course to the current situation and future demands. I remember when I was taking BS Agriculture in the early 90’s Computer Science was an elective subject, but I did not take it. After I graduated, most of the jobs I had (even now)have something to do with computers – research work in plant breeding , in the local government unit, in hotels and especially now with my stint in the DILG – actually I regretted that I did not grab the chance to enroll in computer subject then :-(. But you see Agricultural Universities have foreseen the importance of computer subject in the field of agriculture. We would not be surprised if ICT will be offered in the curriculum soon :-).
I agree. I hope that this will be a reality 10 years from now.
Hi, Yitzhak613 and Mjborres22,
It is nice to hear from your idea about revisiting BS Agricultural Curriculum in relation to ICT; your relfections bring an inspiration to reflect on the possibility of considering ICT in the study of agricultural course. I can also see the necessity and usefulness of it, at least the basic and the fundamental knowledge. It could be of great help to the agricultural students someday once they land, employ, and practice their degree of profession. I agree on that opinion and hopefully this shall be materialized.
The Philippine agricultural sector may find time to cope with globalization in terms of ICTand producer organizations may find difficulty to invest on ICT having all the issues posted like limited resources, etc., but let me draw from the baseline by starting to think outside the box-The Agriculture program curriculum being adopted by higher education institutions (HEIs) may be enhanced. In fact, in CMO 14, s. 2008, otherwise known as the Policies and Standards for Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (BSA) program, there is only one (1) subject (3 units) of Basic Computer Concept and Application being offered, where the competencies desired to achieve are to develop the ability of students to access, retrieve, process and disseminate information and to update the students of the recent trends in ICT. The agriculture student's ICT knowledge and skill should already be fully developed so that once they go through community immersion, OJT or when they graduate and go to rural areas, they could start by introducing a literacy program for farmers or having been equipped, they could readily utilize and share such skill with the stakeholders. Once they have internalized this, a domino effect will set in.