Question 1: Why are national e-agriculture strategies (also referred to as “ICT for agriculture strategies” or “cyber-strategies for agriculture”) needed for the agricultural sector to fully realize the benefits of ICTs?
Thank you for your contributions on this first day of our discussion.
First of all, please allow me to clarify a little further the general
procedure for a productive discussion here. We should strive to
address the current question put forward as specifically as possible.
By that I mean our responses should articulate elements that will
enable us to formulate a clear answer directly to the specific
question at hand. While you have a total choice over what those
elements (i.e. your response contents) may be, please make sure their
formulation clearly links back to the question --thus, helping the
reader clearly understand in which ways they provide or constitute an
answer to the question.
So far, I have noted some of the replies provide a direct answer to
the question, some other do so more indirectly by, say, listing a
number of positive impacts e-agriculture strategies may have or are
expected to have. In those cases, I take it that the author of the
message implies that those are reasons --albeit not all the reasons,
and maybe not even the main reasons-- why those strategies need to be
put in place. That's the way I'm going to be reading all your posts
over the next two weeks from the perspective of the question it is
meant or expected to address, whether they do so specifically or
indirectly and implicitly. However, the more direct and specific, the
better.
Thank you for your contributions on this first day of our discussion.
First of all, please allow me to clarify a little further the general
procedure for a productive discussion here. We should strive to
address the current question put forward as specifically as possible.
By that I mean our responses should articulate elements that will
enable us to formulate a clear answer directly to the specific
question at hand. While you have a total choice over what those
elements (i.e. your response contents) may be, please make sure their
formulation clearly links back to the question --thus, helping the
reader clearly understand in which ways they provide or constitute an
answer to the question.
So far, I have noted some of the replies provide a direct answer to
the question, some other do so more indirectly by, say, listing a
number of positive impacts e-agriculture strategies may have or are
expected to have. In those cases, I take it that the author of the
message implies that those are reasons --albeit not all the reasons,
and maybe not even the main reasons-- why those strategies need to be
put in place. That's the way I'm going to be reading all your posts
over the next two weeks from the perspective of the question it is
meant or expected to address, whether they do so specifically or
indirectly and implicitly. However, the more direct and specific, the
better.
les stratégies nationales d'e-agriculture, "Les TIC pour les stratégies agricoles» ou «cyber-stratégies pour l'agriculture» sont nécessaires pour le secteur agricole pour réaliser pleinement les avantages des TIC du fait :
de leur simplicité et leur faible coût de plus en plus en progression, donc de leur utilisation par le maximum de producteurs
des possibilités offertes aux chercheurs, agents de conseil agricole et décideurs de toucher plus rapidement le maximum de cibles
de la possibilité offerte aux organisations paysannes de se concerter plus rapidement
National strategies for e-agriculture, "ICT for agricultural strategies" or "e- agriculture strategies " are necessary for the agricultural sector to fully realize the benefits of ICT because:
of their simplicity and low cost more up, so their use by the maximum number of producers
of opportunities for researchers, agricultural extension agents and policy makers to reach more quickly than targets
the possibility of farmers' organizations to work together more quickly
What you wrote sounds theoretically well, but I wanted to ask you whether from what you see on the ground you can really say ICTs are simple, particularly in the context of agriculture and farming in ACP countries? Do farmers or even extension workers think they are simple tools that make their life a lot better? Again based on experience, do ICTs significantly increase the number of people reached by agricultural services, especially among their primary stakeholders (i.e. farmers and extension workers)?
I am asking this because elsewhere, the technology may appear challenging to use effectively to solve old needs that used to be solved through long established practices. Also there might be some factors of resistance. For instance in Ghana (but this could be many other places across Africa and beyond) where I was discussing related issues with a staff at the Ministry of Agric, the latter complained about extension workers dragging their feet to adopt some of the ICT-based services because it would then mean they won't get to come to Accra as much for their job (for anyone who doesn't live in the capital city, it's always good to visit once in awhile particularly if lodging and subsistence are take care of.)
I'm afraid designers, whether of policy or technology, often have in mind a model user/citizen that looks very much like themselves but much less like the user/citizen out there on the ground or in the field.
By the way, this thread touches upon the topic we will be discussing on Week 2 relating to Stakeholders, Challenges and Lessons learned etc. So Anyone else who would like to dig into this may want to keep that contribution for the next week provided that you're certain you're going to remember posting it (otherwise I'd rather have you chip in here than lose your contribution.)
Robert KibayaKikandwa Rural Communities Development Organization - KIRUCODOUganda
Good evenning from Uganda to everyone.
This is a very important forum to shape the future of our respective nations' e-agriculture policy developments and implementations.
Right, I would like to register my response to Question 1: (Why are national e-agriculture strategies (also referred to as “ICT for agriculture strategies” or “cyber-strategies for agriculture”) needed for the agricultural sector to fully realize the benefits of ICTs? )
In my opinion, based on the rural experience I have, I think e-agriculture strategies are needed because of the following below:
(a) Because of lack of formal e-griculture strategies in variours ACP countries, this will Help to shape the formal legal development in connection to access, protection and utilization of ICTs in Agriculture at all industrial development levels of the sector.
(b) Because of lack of enough knowledge and information on e-agriculture strategies in a great number of ACP countries, this will help majority of players within or indirectly linked to the agricultural sector to begin a learning process on how the incooperation and utilization of ICTs in Agriculture can be of greater benefit and in turn, they will be able to rightfully advocate for the same at all levels of the value chain.
(c) Because of lack of proper guieding principles on e-agriculture strategies in majority of ACP countries, this will help to create a frame-work into which existing tradition and future sectoral policies can be directly fitted in.
My experience in rural Jamaica has shown me that the small farmers are reluctatnt to use ICT's and fail to see how it can benefit them; a national push in this direction could help so that the expected benefits can be known. Marketing, online sales, standard procedures for crop production and the like.
First, I will suggest the need to clarify the concept of e agriculture for decision and policy makers. Some of them understand the importance of ICT, but have no clue how to indicate it inside a policy less how to implement.
Clarified the concept, the question comes well in terms of showcasing the benefits. What are the benefits and to whom:
Agricultural technicians: improve their work and communication.
Farmers: More precise tools and real time information access.
Question 1: Why are national e-agriculture strategies (also referred to as “ICT for agriculture strategies” or “cyber-strategies for agriculture”) needed for the agricultural sector to fully realize the benefits of ICTs?
Dear all,
Thank you for your contributions on this first day of our discussion.
First of all, please allow me to clarify a little further the general
procedure for a productive discussion here. We should strive to
address the current question put forward as specifically as possible.
By that I mean our responses should articulate elements that will
enable us to formulate a clear answer directly to the specific
question at hand. While you have a total choice over what those
elements (i.e. your response contents) may be, please make sure their
formulation clearly links back to the question --thus, helping the
reader clearly understand in which ways they provide or constitute an
answer to the question.
So far, I have noted some of the replies provide a direct answer to
the question, some other do so more indirectly by, say, listing a
number of positive impacts e-agriculture strategies may have or are
expected to have. In those cases, I take it that the author of the
message implies that those are reasons --albeit not all the reasons,
and maybe not even the main reasons-- why those strategies need to be
put in place. That's the way I'm going to be reading all your posts
over the next two weeks from the perspective of the question it is
meant or expected to address, whether they do so specifically or
indirectly and implicitly. However, the more direct and specific, the
better.
Thanks for your understanding and cooperation.
Mawaki
Dear all,
Thank you for your contributions on this first day of our discussion.
First of all, please allow me to clarify a little further the general
procedure for a productive discussion here. We should strive to
address the current question put forward as specifically as possible.
By that I mean our responses should articulate elements that will
enable us to formulate a clear answer directly to the specific
question at hand. While you have a total choice over what those
elements (i.e. your response contents) may be, please make sure their
formulation clearly links back to the question --thus, helping the
reader clearly understand in which ways they provide or constitute an
answer to the question.
So far, I have noted some of the replies provide a direct answer to
the question, some other do so more indirectly by, say, listing a
number of positive impacts e-agriculture strategies may have or are
expected to have. In those cases, I take it that the author of the
message implies that those are reasons --albeit not all the reasons,
and maybe not even the main reasons-- why those strategies need to be
put in place. That's the way I'm going to be reading all your posts
over the next two weeks from the perspective of the question it is
meant or expected to address, whether they do so specifically or
indirectly and implicitly. However, the more direct and specific, the
better.
Thanks for your understanding and cooperation.
Mawaki
les stratégies nationales d'e-agriculture, "Les TIC pour les stratégies agricoles» ou «cyber-stratégies pour l'agriculture» sont nécessaires pour le secteur agricole pour réaliser pleinement les avantages des TIC du fait :
National strategies for e-agriculture, "ICT for agricultural strategies" or "e- agriculture strategies " are necessary for the agricultural sector to fully realize the benefits of ICT because:
<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 12 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Tahoma;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Verdana;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
p
{mso-style-priority:99;
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0cm;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0cm;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}
span.EmailStyle20
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:10.0pt;}
@page WordSection1
{size:612.0pt 792.0pt;
margin:70.85pt 70.85pt 70.85pt 70.85pt;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body bgcolor=white lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=FR style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Dear Abou/Cher Abou :<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=FR style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=FR style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Merci pour l’effort de lecture des contributions en anglais et pour la traduction de votre message en français. Nous encourageons ceux qui suivent ce débat et qui ne parlent que le français d’envoyer leur contribution dans cette langue, mais d’ajouter une traduction en anglais (si nécessaire en faisant une traduction automatique avec un outil comme Google traduction <a href="http://translate.google.com/">http://translate.google.com/</a>) – idéalement dans le même message).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=FR style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Dear Abou<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Thank you for your contribution and the translation you provided in English.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Regards<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Ken Lohento<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>ICT4D Programme Coordinator, CTA <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>CTA | P.O. Box 380 | 6700AJ Wageningen |The Netherlands | <a href="http://www.cta.int/"><span style='color:blue'>www.cta.int</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Tel: +31 (0) 317 467100</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style='border:none;border-left:solid blue 1.5pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 4.0pt'><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0cm 0cm 0cm'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></
<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 12 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Tahoma;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Verdana;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
p
{mso-style-priority:99;
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0cm;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0cm;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}
span.EmailStyle20
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:10.0pt;}
@page WordSection1
{size:612.0pt 792.0pt;
margin:70.85pt 70.85pt 70.85pt 70.85pt;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body bgcolor=white lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=FR style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Dear Abou/Cher Abou :<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=FR style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=FR style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Merci pour l’effort de lecture des contributions en anglais et pour la traduction de votre message en français. Nous encourageons ceux qui suivent ce débat et qui ne parlent que le français d’envoyer leur contribution dans cette langue, mais d’ajouter une traduction en anglais (si nécessaire en faisant une traduction automatique avec un outil comme Google traduction <a href="http://translate.google.com/">http://translate.google.com/</a>) – idéalement dans le même message).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=FR style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Dear Abou<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Thank you for your contribution and the translation you provided in English.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Regards<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Ken Lohento<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>ICT4D Programme Coordinator, CTA <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>CTA | P.O. Box 380 | 6700AJ Wageningen |The Netherlands | <a href="http://www.cta.int/"><span style='color:blue'>www.cta.int</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Tel: +31 (0) 317 467100</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style='border:none;border-left:solid blue 1.5pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 4.0pt'><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0cm 0cm 0cm'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></
Bonjour Abou,
What you wrote sounds theoretically well, but I wanted to ask you whether from what you see on the ground you can really say ICTs are simple, particularly in the context of agriculture and farming in ACP countries? Do farmers or even extension workers think they are simple tools that make their life a lot better? Again based on experience, do ICTs significantly increase the number of people reached by agricultural services, especially among their primary stakeholders (i.e. farmers and extension workers)?
I am asking this because elsewhere, the technology may appear challenging to use effectively to solve old needs that used to be solved through long established practices. Also there might be some factors of resistance. For instance in Ghana (but this could be many other places across Africa and beyond) where I was discussing related issues with a staff at the Ministry of Agric, the latter complained about extension workers dragging their feet to adopt some of the ICT-based services because it would then mean they won't get to come to Accra as much for their job (for anyone who doesn't live in the capital city, it's always good to visit once in awhile particularly if lodging and subsistence are take care of.)
I'm afraid designers, whether of policy or technology, often have in mind a model user/citizen that looks very much like themselves but much less like the user/citizen out there on the ground or in the field.
By the way, this thread touches upon the topic we will be discussing on Week 2 relating to Stakeholders, Challenges and Lessons learned etc. So Anyone else who would like to dig into this may want to keep that contribution for the next week provided that you're certain you're going to remember posting it (otherwise I'd rather have you chip in here than lose your contribution.)
Thanks
Good evenning from Uganda to everyone.
This is a very important forum to shape the future of our respective nations' e-agriculture policy developments and implementations.
Right, I would like to register my response to Question 1: (Why are national e-agriculture strategies (also referred to as “ICT for agriculture strategies” or “cyber-strategies for agriculture”) needed for the agricultural sector to fully realize the benefits of ICTs? )
In my opinion, based on the rural experience I have, I think e-agriculture strategies are needed because of the following below:
(a) Because of lack of formal e-griculture strategies in variours ACP countries, this will Help to shape the formal legal development in connection to access, protection and utilization of ICTs in Agriculture at all industrial development levels of the sector.
(b) Because of lack of enough knowledge and information on e-agriculture strategies in a great number of ACP countries, this will help majority of players within or indirectly linked to the agricultural sector to begin a learning process on how the incooperation and utilization of ICTs in Agriculture can be of greater benefit and in turn, they will be able to rightfully advocate for the same at all levels of the value chain.
(c) Because of lack of proper guieding principles on e-agriculture strategies in majority of ACP countries, this will help to create a frame-work into which existing tradition and future sectoral policies can be directly fitted in.
I thank you
Robert
My experience in rural Jamaica has shown me that the small farmers are reluctatnt to use ICT's and fail to see how it can benefit them; a national push in this direction could help so that the expected benefits can be known. Marketing, online sales, standard procedures for crop production and the like.
First, I will suggest the need to clarify the concept of e agriculture for decision and policy makers. Some of them understand the importance of ICT, but have no clue how to indicate it inside a policy less how to implement.
Clarified the concept, the question comes well in terms of showcasing the benefits. What are the benefits and to whom:
Agricultural technicians: improve their work and communication.
Farmers: More precise tools and real time information access.