I disagree with that.
Although the overall topic of ICT4D isn't that fresh anymore there is still a huge demand for sorting out it's potentials. For me it seems very important to create an awareness of what is currently possible and mark out the future direction.
We have ICT all around us touching every part of daily life and sometimes don't realize the impact anymore. For us it can be very comfortable to assume that something is working simply because it's working.
What about someone in a rural area who is new to this topic? If you can clearly explain the benefits he would get out of it and listen to his suggestions for additional useful content the result can be even better.
It is true that the scene is fast evolving but if we don't have a lock at why it's happening and how wen might miss out a lot.
I can speak on behalf of what have we done so far. - Started in 2006 with an Idea of SERVING FARMERS with Professional Information. We conducted study on over 1500 farmers trying to understand their information needs. Picked up 4 critical and universal information needs (Market prices, Weather Forecast, Crop Advisory, Agri and Rural News information). Created content around the same. Realized it is about serving PERSONALIZED content to each recepient and created technology platform around it. Completed successful pilots & launched commercially in 2007 -Today we have nearly 400k farmers who have subscribed to the service.Farmers have reported monetary benefit in the range of $100 to $8000. The service and its impact has been studied by various Government and Independent Universities/Agencies. In short we have created Universally applicable innvoation that can benefit farmers. For us it is about scaling.
So are you suggesting that it is obvious that ICTs are indeed having an impact on the lives of poor rural people and that instead of spending time in impact assessment studies we should just move on and scale up and mainstream successful interventions?
Earlier this year we did a small little test run: A group of rural school dropouts in a Tanzanian town 100 km from the nearest tarmac road got access to computers and internet through a commercially operated "telecenter" we had helped launch. Their level of education is low, their English skills just barely sufficient for small talk. They had never even touched a computer. Let’s see what happens…..
Big surprise: Within a week these guys were each having their facebook account and exchanging on it among themselves (and beginning to fall victims to the typical scams on facebook) - and then they ask me to please come in and help them discuss an issue which was…. - now get this: Whether and how "globalization" (whatever they meant by that) enhances or diminishes their local culture.
Phew, what on Earth is going on? Among youth in a remote rural town like that? What effects, what impacts? Certainly a lot more than just on agriculture, that's for sure!
it is important to measure and analyze the socio-economic impact of ICT in rural areas to facilitate trend reviews and sustainability. However it will be be expensive to do so and training of Local government and community base resource person is important but as at now not yet implemented. ICT is gaining ground in rural areas at a fast rate with mobile phone. In Nigeria rural information technology centers have been created with ICT4D launched. However, a lot need to be done to facilitate ownership especially by the LGAs and rural communities. The theoretical framework and paper work are excellent but the practice difficult. RITC in rural ares aim at facilitating entry to remote areas. But lack M and E framework for impact assessment. Analysis of the socio - economic impact will facilitate measurement of the effectiveness, relevance and efficiency - this is lacking.
Victoria Taiwo Obasaju-Ayo, FAO-UN expert 2001-2020, Rome / Nigeria
“Effective adoption of ICT has a proven record in many parts of the world and a demonstrated potential to attain significant economic, social and environmental benefits at local, national and global levels(Gelb et al, 2008). This is been amply demonstrated by the countless of initiatives in India. But it is also significant that more research needs to be carried out to quantify the quantum and the depth of such initiatives on the socio economic fabric of rural societies.
ICT definitely can facilitate and stimulate trade in goods and services and play an important role in bringing transparency in the agricultural marketing system, where the players sometimes do not play by the rule. I think the bottom line is that ICT iniitatives has to be designed well, implemented well and promoted well in order to be of significance to rural communities.
Value of analyzing the socio-economic impact of ICT in rural areas..
*Helps to understand what works and needs to be supported/promoted And what does not work and needs to be scrapped
*Direct & solid impact will lead to certainity of sustainability
*Quantification of MDG goals (Poverty reduction, Economic empowerment, Increase in Wealth) would be possible
*Subscribing farmers reported increased earnings in the range of 5%-25% - ICRIER study
*Each farmers shares the information received with at least 5-7 fellow farmers (Neighbours/Friends/Relatives)
*Farmers reported increase in incomes in the range of US$100 to US$10000 in matter of few months of subscribing to service - Customer testimonials in the form or Audio, Videos, Letters
*68% of the farmers reported making profits by taking timely decisions based on information received - IMRB survey
*93% said they would recommend the service to their friends & relatives - IMRB survey
*Anecdotal -
- Message (SMS) from RML is message of God
- I have been able to marry of my daughter with the profits that i made because of RML
- With RML, now no one can cheat or exploit me
RML is indeed a very important service for ruralities, as mobile phones are now widely owned by farmers. According to my survey on ICT services of the department of agriculture, Meghalaya, it was found that 40% of farmers own mobile phones while none of the respondents ever access the Common Service Centre (CSC) or are aware of the services of the csc which were set up by the State IT Department.
However, the economics of RML at Rs. 850/- per annum with a subscriber base of 50,000 farmer does not work for small states where population are low, scattered and widely dispersed. Different models need to be worked out for small states.
Completely agree. Further to add,
Development agency/Donors/Multilaterals can only provide the SPEED impetus by supporting proven models to SCALE faster.
The debate is meaningless and is aloof of what is already happening on ground. Pilots, Bigger Pilots, Commercial success etc.
I disagree with that.
Although the overall topic of ICT4D isn't that fresh anymore there is still a huge demand for sorting out it's potentials. For me it seems very important to create an awareness of what is currently possible and mark out the future direction.
We have ICT all around us touching every part of daily life and sometimes don't realize the impact anymore. For us it can be very comfortable to assume that something is working simply because it's working.
What about someone in a rural area who is new to this topic? If you can clearly explain the benefits he would get out of it and listen to his suggestions for additional useful content the result can be even better.
It is true that the scene is fast evolving but if we don't have a lock at why it's happening and how wen might miss out a lot.
I can speak on behalf of what have we done so far. - Started in 2006 with an Idea of SERVING FARMERS with Professional Information. We conducted study on over 1500 farmers trying to understand their information needs. Picked up 4 critical and universal information needs (Market prices, Weather Forecast, Crop Advisory, Agri and Rural News information). Created content around the same. Realized it is about serving PERSONALIZED content to each recepient and created technology platform around it. Completed successful pilots & launched commercially in 2007 -Today we have nearly 400k farmers who have subscribed to the service.Farmers have reported monetary benefit in the range of $100 to $8000. The service and its impact has been studied by various Government and Independent Universities/Agencies. In short we have created Universally applicable innvoation that can benefit farmers. For us it is about scaling.
So are you suggesting that it is obvious that ICTs are indeed having an impact on the lives of poor rural people and that instead of spending time in impact assessment studies we should just move on and scale up and mainstream successful interventions?
Earlier this year we did a small little test run: A group of rural school dropouts in a Tanzanian town 100 km from the nearest tarmac road got access to computers and internet through a commercially operated "telecenter" we had helped launch. Their level of education is low, their English skills just barely sufficient for small talk. They had never even touched a computer. Let’s see what happens…..
Big surprise: Within a week these guys were each having their facebook account and exchanging on it among themselves (and beginning to fall victims to the typical scams on facebook) - and then they ask me to please come in and help them discuss an issue which was…. - now get this: Whether and how "globalization" (whatever they meant by that) enhances or diminishes their local culture.
Phew, what on Earth is going on? Among youth in a remote rural town like that? What effects, what impacts? Certainly a lot more than just on agriculture, that's for sure!
Ueli Scheuermeier
it is important to measure and analyze the socio-economic impact of ICT in rural areas to facilitate trend reviews and sustainability. However it will be be expensive to do so and training of Local government and community base resource person is important but as at now not yet implemented. ICT is gaining ground in rural areas at a fast rate with mobile phone. In Nigeria rural information technology centers have been created with ICT4D launched. However, a lot need to be done to facilitate ownership especially by the LGAs and rural communities. The theoretical framework and paper work are excellent but the practice difficult. RITC in rural ares aim at facilitating entry to remote areas. But lack M and E framework for impact assessment. Analysis of the socio - economic impact will facilitate measurement of the effectiveness, relevance and efficiency - this is lacking.
Victoria Taiwo Obasaju-Ayo, FAO-UN expert 2001-2020, Rome / Nigeria
“Effective adoption of ICT has a proven record in many parts of the world and a demonstrated potential to attain significant economic, social and environmental benefits at local, national and global levels(Gelb et al, 2008). This is been amply demonstrated by the countless of initiatives in India. But it is also significant that more research needs to be carried out to quantify the quantum and the depth of such initiatives on the socio economic fabric of rural societies.
ICT definitely can facilitate and stimulate trade in goods and services and play an important role in bringing transparency in the agricultural marketing system, where the players sometimes do not play by the rule. I think the bottom line is that ICT iniitatives has to be designed well, implemented well and promoted well in order to be of significance to rural communities.
Value of analyzing the socio-economic impact of ICT in rural areas..
*Helps to understand what works and needs to be supported/promoted And what does not work and needs to be scrapped
*Direct & solid impact will lead to certainity of sustainability
*Quantification of MDG goals (Poverty reduction, Economic empowerment, Increase in Wealth) would be possible
*Subscribing farmers reported increased earnings in the range of 5%-25% - ICRIER study
*Each farmers shares the information received with at least 5-7 fellow farmers (Neighbours/Friends/Relatives)
*Farmers reported increase in incomes in the range of US$100 to US$10000 in matter of few months of subscribing to service - Customer testimonials in the form or Audio, Videos, Letters
*68% of the farmers reported making profits by taking timely decisions based on information received - IMRB survey
*93% said they would recommend the service to their friends & relatives - IMRB survey
*Anecdotal -
- Message (SMS) from RML is message of God
- I have been able to marry of my daughter with the profits that i made because of RML
- With RML, now no one can cheat or exploit me
RML is indeed a very important service for ruralities, as mobile phones are now widely owned by farmers. According to my survey on ICT services of the department of agriculture, Meghalaya, it was found that 40% of farmers own mobile phones while none of the respondents ever access the Common Service Centre (CSC) or are aware of the services of the csc which were set up by the State IT Department.
However, the economics of RML at Rs. 850/- per annum with a subscriber base of 50,000 farmer does not work for small states where population are low, scattered and widely dispersed. Different models need to be worked out for small states.