Who are the Users and what are their needs?

As our conversations evolve, there are important contributions about "Who are the Users?" "What do we know about their needs?" I am going to copy those here, and invite any other suggestions about who are the Users of CGIAR's iGPGs. Then at the end of the consultation, we can see together our collected input on this element of the strategy. So feel free to add your suggestions here.

Extracted from [url=http://www.e-agriculture.org/270.html?&view=single_post&cat_uid=16&conf…"]this post[/url] from Kauser A. Malik Posted: Sep 14 2007 - 12:07 PM Subject: Strategy Document [quote]There are basically four main clients for this information. 1. Researchers 2. Policy makers 3. Extension workers/NGOs 4. Farmers. Any consolidated KM facility must take into account the needs of these end users. Researchers are looking for hard core scientific information which may help them further their research or improving a technology. Policy makers would be interested in knowing the usefulness of various interventions which will improve overall agricultural productivity; extension/NGOs would like to know different proven technologies for dissemination, lastly farmer is probably not aware of what is happening at CGIAR. Scientists at CGIAR should also be continuously trained and motivated to share information with NARS scientists. In the prevalent IPR scenario, this is becoming more and more complicated.[/quote]

From: Myriam Sánchez M Posted: Sep 15 2007 - 01:26 PM [quote]In the texts you proposes as a base, ii is common to find a distinction between " partners" and " users" .I perceives there one of the most important aspects for review in the CGIAR scheme of work.Why producers , peasants, cultivators are not considered PARTNERS , but only " users" ? In a non linear R&D scheme , generation, use and social appropriation of knowledge , makes access to knowledge easier an more useful. Also cheaper and gives a quick way to innovation ( knowledge in production). Knowledge FROM scientists only, takes ages to become information açdn , if it happens, ages to become more and better access to food. Myriam Sánchez M Corporacion Biotec Colombia [/quote]

I am from Tamilnadu in India. As a company we have given connections to about 150 villages and panchayat in one of the 28 districts of Tamilnadu. But there is a dearth of information in the local language. Tamil. If the forum can have a simulaneous translation service this will be useful not only to this district but the entire group of farmers who have access to internet. This job can be outsourced to these kiosks themselves through a local company called desicrew being incubated by Tenet group of iitmadras. raj

Raj, can you tell us more about using the kiosks for translating into local languages? That sounds very interesting!

Here is some additional input that came via email from Paul Sillu in Nairobi [quote]User needs forms the biggest bulk of solving the maze of info dissemination. The accessibility, format and direction of communication would be vital. Channels of info access to the different groups need not to be complicated. For example scientist-to-scientist communication should eased that one doesn't need to go through long channels to access the research findings. The findings should be "free" or affordable to a certain group of users. Scientist-to-farmer and vice versa communication should be made easy that each can communicate with each other without fear. Researchers should not intimidate farmers with "technical" jargon or even by being too theoretical. They should create a conducive environment and mood for communication because a lot of unseen noise occurs at this point. Scientists should lower themselves to farmers' level and talk to them not the way they would address their peers in conference. [/quote]

Dear Nancy, Users of the eagriculture in this part of the world know tamil only, As I had mentioned earlier I have given internet connections to about 150 villages including village panchayats. But for want of material in Tamil this is languishing. So I wish to introduce to the eagriculture community CEO of Desicrew a company being incubated by TeNeT group of IIT madras. They undertake jobs from customers get them completed in any one of the 20 or odd villages where she has a 5 member crew ready and willing. Saloni checke the qulity and delivery and ensures the job is to the satisfaction and makes payment to the villagers on receipt from customer. This is a BPO from city to the villages of India. Her email id [email protected] raj