Question 2 (opens 14 Nov.)
Question 2: What are the priority areas that producer organizations should invest in with regard to ICT?
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Yes Sir. There are some producer organizations which have invested in telecenters. For instance, in Uganda, the 3,800 members of the Busia District Farmers Association have a telecenter with various facilities, including seven Internet-ready computers, a printer, a fax machine, and a generator in case the main electricity fails (Naborne 2010). It was set up in 2008, with the Uganda Communications Commission contributing 80% of the costs and the members 20%. Farmers are trained to use the internet to identify markets and liaise with them directly, and they say they can find better prices and sell their produce in bulk. They pay a small fee to use the center.
Another example is the telecenter model of Huaral Valley in Peru, where farmers cannot operate without access to water for irrigation. The water comes from lakes in neighboring highlands, and there is a long history of social organization to ensure that water is distributed fairly.
The benefits of telecenters operated by farmer organizations - access to technical and market information from the Internet, for instance - do not have to be limited to literate farmers who live close by. The benefits can be amplified if telecenters are used to develop training materials for illiterate or far-flung members of the organization.
The telecters concept shows that literate farmers readily learn to use ICTs to access technical information and market prices. The farmers benefit from being able to contact other farmer groups and link with buyers (http://www.ictinagriculture.org/ictinag/sourcebook/module-8-farmer-organizations-work-better-ict).
Success factors identified for community e-centers in Malaysia include the following:
- Focus on people, organization, content, and processes rather than on technologies;
- Research the actual needs and socio-economic goals of the community;
- Provide ICTs and services via the CeCs which are relevant to community needs;
- Find local champions who can motivate and mobilize the community;
- Community participates capitalizing on local strengths and resources in the development (planning, implementation and operation, evaluation, monitoring) of the CeCs;
- Sound business plans and sustainability models ensure CeCs' continuing existence and growth;
- On-going monitoring and evaluation of CeCs' performance;
- Foster and develop smart partnerships (government, industry, NGOs, and community) for strategizing and translating CeCs' goals into action; and,
- Continue to train, and educate the CeCs' personnel and community. (http://www.ictregulationtoolkit.org/en/Section.3185.html)
ICTs can deliver potentially valuable information to end-users like market prices to poor rural farmers and medical advice to rural healthcare workers. However, market information is useless if there are no roads to transport goods, and medical advice is meaningless if there is no money to purchase medicines. As evidence from research on Botswana SMEs (small and medium enterprises) confirms, information is important, but it is only one part in a chain of resources (infrastructure, skills, money) required for the end-user to have the capacity to act (UNDP, 2001). (http://wsispapers.choike.org/ict_telecenters_dev.pdf) - Joyce Wendam
Thank you for this and the Uganda information Joyce. It's valuable to know in the Uganda case how the telecenter is supported with funds. Do you know how the Malaysian centers are funded?
The sustainability of telecenters has long been a topic of discussion. Over the years we have seen several models to cover operating costs, but few examples of self-sustaining centers.
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TELECENTERS FOR AGRICULTURE SECTOR
It would be a big difference putting up a telecenter for Agriculture sector alone. It would be like a manifestation of an earnest corporate responsibility for producer organizations. Though it would demand a careful consideration as it would entail huge financial funding in putting up one yet the benefits are a more informed farmers on the methods on farming; enhanced market range; intensified dissemination of agricultural information, to name a few.
http://extensionconference2011.cta.int/node/143
Kelly
I agree with Kelly, creating a telecenter may serve as a tool in improving information dissemination as there is a growing interest in the use of information and communication technologies to support rural development through basic rural telephone service, rural distance education, information and communication systems supporting producer groups by providing agricultural producers information on market prices, linking producers and others to buyers. However, It is more on the rationale for investment of producer organizations as there are other key issues to focus on.
I would agree with you in creating telecenter solely for agriculture. I would also recommend for technology commercialization.
adrian
This is one of the key points that came out in the GFAR-supported discussion (Global Forum on Agricultural Research) of information and communication specialists working in agriculture (www.dgroups.org/groups/inars) in exploring different dimensions and exchanging ideas and experiences on KM and sharing in agriculture- the recognition of the importance of telecenters in mediating communication between rural communities and information providers. For instance, India is exploring rural telecenters that offer a wide range of services from both the government and the private sector. The utilization of ICT is the growth area in improving agricultural markets, marketing systems, and commodity exchanges. Particular information being made available to farmers, for instance, empowers them to take better decisions and earn better returns on their produce. (Information Development, DOI: 10.1177/0266666909351634)
Hi Kelly,
Since most farmers in the Philippines have no access to the Net, then the TV is still a good source of information. This reminds me of Gerry Geronimo's tv show, Ating Alamin, which serves as a guide to alternative means of livelihood, including farming. I'm just not sure if the show is still broadcasting though.
Regards,
Harv
INTENSIFIED SCHOLARSHIP FOR AGRICULTURE PROGRAMS
With the ballooning population in the country, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) of the Philippines recently launched Project JobsFit: The DOLE 2020 Vision where the specified most in-demand and hard-to-fill jobs in the country are listed. The top priority is in the Agribusiness such as Animal Husbandry, Agricultural Economist, Aqua-culturist, Coconut Farmer, Entomologist (Plant), Farmer (Fruit, Vegetable and Root Crops, Fisherman, Horticulturist, Plant Mechanic, Rice Tresher Operator-Mechanic, Veterinarian, and Pathologist. The department wants to impose that contrary to what most people believe, there are jobs available in the country for the graduates of these programs.
Producer organizations may also look into possibilities of creating scholarships in these programs; or universities and colleges may opt to offer such courses to meet the needs of the land. What I know is that only few take these kinds of courses because it is not well introduced to high school students. Only few universities as well, and solely in the provinces, offer these programs. My son doesn’t even have gardening at school, unlike during our elementary days, because the school replaced it with computer subjects so they are more exposed to this field rather than on the basic and I think much favorable learning that they could use for a lifetime.
www.jobopenings.ph/article_item-367/DOLE_Lists_Most_In_Demand_Jobs_in_the_Philippines.html
Kelly