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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Hi Sir Pierre
I agree with you and Sansu that mobile phone and radio are the easiest and most convenient ICT to connect rural people with difficult access. They are not also expensive.
Here is a link that offers radio technolody without the use of a studio
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/askjack/2012/feb/09/ask-jack-record...
There are also mobile phones with access to FM stations. FM stations can also air agricultural related news.
Hi Pierre,
In the Philippines, one cannot own transmitters or transceivers without registering with the National Telecommunications Co., our telco regulating body. The frequencies used are also applied to the said entity, so the cheapest way to broadcast is through the Net. I have seen amateur "radio stations" being broadcast via Ustream.
Regards,
Harv
Hi Sansu,
One of the main problems that many agricultural marketing cooperatives is how best to bridge the physical distance between outlying collection points or primary societies and the mother cooperative. This is especially true for dairy cooperatives and other cooperatives marketing highly pershible products daily communication between outlying collection points and the main cooperative area critical. Do you or does anybody have any idea of what might be the infrastructure requirements and investment costs of setting up a WLAN lets say to cover an area of 1-5 kms?
My own opinion is that our discussion on question 2 should focus more on improving business efficiencies at the local (member-to-coop) level rather that focusing most of our attention on Internet and web access at higher levels as you seem to be arguing.
Hi Sir John,
In the Philippines, it costs about P2,000.00 or about $49 per unit to set up WLAN in a small computer area or what we call computer shop. The cost could get lower depending on your contact who could give you lower prices or discounts.
Yet, the practice of corporate social responsibility or csr by some organizations which could support producer organizations can pave the way in setting up a small area of interconnected computers which the farmers or members can use, given that they are trained or equipped in dealing with the new technology or ICT, which, in the long run could help transport the produce from farm to market.
Hi John, Sansu,
I believe the cost is more than that as that will only cover a very basic computer. To be able to reach 5km, we will be needing a strong router with antennas and/or repeaters. A good line of sight is also needed so the signal won't drop.
Regards,
Harv
Sansu made a good point, the nature of life in most rural communities is that of a subsistence manner. In the Philippines, the radio is a complementary component in promoting agriculture and rural development. Planned radio campaigns complementing face-to-face advise and extension, with administrative and material support available can motivate, can inform, can entertain, can unify and can contribute towards desirable change.
Hi Pierre,
I fully agree with you that perhaps the most important role that ICT can play within producer organizations is to help bridge the considerable information gap that continues to exist in many producer organizations and by doing so: 1) make PO business managers more accountable to satisfying member business needs; 2) improve PO business management efficiency; 3) encourage member users to invest in the growth of their PO business and provide the IC technology to facilitate that ; and 4) strengthen PO financial self-reliance.
John
Hi Pierre and John,
I like the way you have distinguished between the areas of need and the logic of going about it. One way of looking at it from a PO perspective would be perhaps the following:
1. Advocacy by PO or an umbrella PO for connectivity in the rural areas
2. Building the PO ICT base and skills (whether radio, internet, videos for learning, off-line courses, mobile based services, etc) for PO (core) connectivity, management, and outreach to members - tools and approaches that are needed for this to take place
3. Tools and building approrpiate skills of a wide range of PO members to connect and use of PO sservices, including ICT based services
The discussion thread has identified a number of areas that fit under this.
Riikka
John and Riikka, I believe the dicussion is helpfull
It seems we may identify different technology for different purpose
- IC technology for the organization to be more efficent, more transparent and more accountable : radio, web, others ....
- IC technology to increase business performances of the organizations and its members (i) local and distant market information, (ii) market opportunities, (iii) knowledge/technology information (extension) others... . These are cell phone, web, radio as well, K7, others...
- IC technology for advocacy at local regional and national level to value their knowledge and tradition and have their voice heard in on radio, social networks, forums etc..
- How IC technology can facilitate farmers access to financing and what would be the role of the farmer organization??
In any case, as Riika say there is a need to build the PO ICT base and skills (whether radio, internet, videos for learning, off-line courses, mobile based services, etc) either for them to run the IC technology or to contract out the management of these technology and being able to control the work done by the professional.