Question 3 (opens 19 Nov.)

Hi Mike,

I agree that the public sector should empower the farmers.  I would like to add to your example the Philippine Rice Research Institute's Pinoy Rice Knowledge Bank.  They have a system called PalayCheck that presents the best key technology and management practices in rice crop management.

Regards,

Harv

This is a very helpful information. Certainly, government agencies, particularly the Department of Agriculture and its sub-units, need to embrace ICT in extension services and thus conduct ICT training programs for producer organizations.

Besides this government-centered training approach though, I wonder whether it would be a feasible idea for the government to create a mandate for ICT training institutions to design academic programs that are specifically meant for farmers and producer organizations, coupled with scholarship. There would be complications and issues to be resolved of course, foremost among them woud be the availability of farmers. Still, when pursued and given a try, the benefits farmers would get from a formal ICT training could be myriad.

The public sector offers multifarious services to the producer organizations.  These producer organizations are considered as partners.  Take the case of the Department of Agriculture (DA).  DA does not give any assistance or interventions to individual farmers but to the producer organizations.  In its bid to modernize the agriculture sector and for  the agriculture sector to be sustainable and competitive, the following support are being given to the producer organizations:

1.  Production support services -  under this, farmers are provided with quality planting materials through community seed banking and technology demonstrations in order to increase production.

2.  Market support services  -  services include price information, market matching, provision of food terminals, and holding of trade fairs and exhibits.

3.  Credit facilitation services - producer organizations are assisted in the preparation of their  feasibility studies/projects proposals for sourcing of funds from financing institutions;  credit linkage, etc.

4.  Irrigation services -  provision of irirgation services through rehabilitation of irrigation systems such as  small water impounding dams, small farm reservoir, etc.

5.  Infrastructure projects and postharvest facilities - include farm-to-market road rehabilitation, establishment of warehouse, rice processing complex, corn central, flatbed dryers, etc.  These are not dole-outs but on a counterparting scheme, farmer-beneficiaries putting up a certain per cent as their counterpart (ex. - cost sharing arrangement:  85% DA;  15% - proponent)

6.  Extension support, education and training services - include school-on-the-air, training of members of the producer organizations as local farmer technicians to augment the extension workers in the locality, Farmers Field School, social mobilization and preparation, and provision of IEC materials.

7.  Research and development -  the banner program is the community-based participatory action research (CPAR) wherein the producer organization members are being trained as researchers. This is in partnership with the LGUs and CSOs.  Farm inputs are being provided by DA while LGU/producer organizations provide 20% equity as part of the project cost.  Members are required to repay what they have received but the repayment (60%) will be made to the organization not to DA.  The objective of CPAR is to increase farmers' productivity and income through integrated farming system and promote people empowerment. 

8.  Information support services - provision of IEC materials, conduct of radio programs, TV guestings, establishment of Barangay Agricultural Information Center (BAIC) in partnership with the community, utilization of quad media (print, radio, TV, internet) in disseminating information on agriculture matters, technology updates, research breakthroughs, etc.  Partnership with the media has been forged  through the establishment of the agency Press Corp.  Information caravans are also being held bringing the services closer to the grassroots. 

9.  Advocacy, policy and planning -  capacitating LGUs to become effective planners, conduct of consultations with CSOs/POs/NGOs/private sector as participants, providing ICT needs to DA partners through its GIS laboratory, conduct of ICT training on geotagging;  and, maintenance of agency website to promote transparency, and accountability.  Through DA website, producer organizations may access agricultural information.

The major strategy in implementing all these is through public-private partnership. 

Hi rtdjoy,

I would just like to provide concrete examples on the public-private partnership for the producer organizations in the following areas: 

Production support services -  maybe the DA can partner with various suppliers who belong to the private sector in terms of providing both farming equipments and agricultural supplies, among others.

Market support services  -  in partnership with DA and DTI, traders and producer organizations can be matched for wider and more effective trading of produce

Credit facilitation services - The Land Bank of the Philippines and credit cooperatives to facilitate the lending/loan programs which the producer organizations can avail of.

Infrastructure projects and postharvest facilities - in partnership or collaboration with DPWH and the LGUs in mappingout  farm-to-market roads

Extension support, education and training services -  perhaps, TESDA can be tapped here, as this is the government agency which takes care of low-cost skills/training programs

Research and development -  can the DA collaborate with PIDS, the Academe, DBP among other institutions to support R&D on agricultural needs/requirements?

Information support services - in tandem with the government's stations PTV4 and Phil. Information Agency, along with other national agencies which have their own regular media group promoting the agency's programs esp. on food production  and food security, such as National Nutrition Council, DA, to mention a few

Advocacy, policy and planning -  again, PIA along with other agencies which run their own media groups, NEDA, PIDS, etc.

Thus, public-private partnership is really in existence as various government agencies belonging to different cluster groups which hold regular consultation meetings with the President.

Question 3: What should be the role of the public sector in supporting producer organizations' uptake of ICT? 

Let me share this with all of you-

First, Philippines is an agricultural and a calamity-prone country. It is the sector of the government that primarily provides agricultural food for the people.   It is encompassing therefore, that the government should invest more in improving this sector of our government.

Second,  we have a downward trend in the number of enrolees and graduates in the country, perhaps because of the impression that agriculture connotes farming and parents who are farmers would rather see their children with white collar jobs than to see them in the farm.

Third, offices in Region I and perhaps in other regions like Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Bureau of Fisheries (BFAR) and in the Local Government Units have been running out of experts not only in agriculture but also in fisheries. How could we be assured support from the public if they are just  few takers of the program or meager number who appreciate the agriculture program?

This is one of reasons why the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) issued  CHED Memorandum Order 32, s. 2011 to put on  moratorium the opening of all undergraduate and graduate programs in Business Administration, Nursing, Teacher Education, Hotel and Restaurant Management and Information Technology Education, effective School Year 2011-2012 to give way to the undersubscribed programs, where one of which is  the Agriculture program.

As an initiative, CHED Region I,  in one of the  activities we conducted on agriculture,we  organized an association, conducted a Student Congress, held Trade Fair in collaboration with the DA, DENR,BFAR  and DOLE  all in Region  I. Recently, we were able to produce a 7^th placer in the region, which  is a history to the institution. Further, based on the monitoring activity conducted recently by the joint team, CHED and PRC with two (2) institutions offering the agriculture program, their enrollment increased and their  performance rating in the recent board exam has gone beyond the national passing rate.

How can we have the public support to the  producer organization’s uptake of ICT if our agriculture sector is seemingly "weak"?

1. Starting from the bottom, we have to  intensify advertising the agriculture program so as to increase the number of takers. From here, public would appreciate the program.  (INFORMATION DISSEMINATION/IEC)
2.  Collaboration of the different concerned agencies like DENR, DA, BFAR, DOLE, etc.  could help strengthen the program by conducting activities, trainings, etc. (LINKAGING)
3. There is a need to revise/enhance  the curriculum on agriculture to integrate  further knowledge and application of  ICT since the Policies and Standards for said Bachelor of Science in Agriculture program  (CHED Memorandum Order No. 14, s. 2008) only requires,  as a minimum requirement , 1 subject (3-units) of  ICT. This will help students be exposed in the new media technology. This way, their knowledge on ICT could be utilized during their community and extension activities, On-the-Job Trainings (OJT)/practicum and the like. Training of farmers on the use of ICT as part of the activity could be engaged in. (COMMUNITY EXTENSION)
4.  Once the farmers or stakeholders are ICT equipped, communication with producer organizations could be easily accessed. Public in general could have  a ready access on said organzations.(COMMUNICATION)
5. Tapping  the support of the private enterprise like  telecom/ICT companies to get involved (perhaps through sponsorships, provision for gadgets/ICT equipment or trainings) would mean, advertising their products and at the  same time getting  the farmers  be trained on ICT. (INVOLVEMENT OF PRIVATE ENTERPRISE) 
6. Use of networking like social media to intensify   ICT between producer organizations and other stakeholders could be of help like creating  an e-Agriculture Group, etc. (NETWORKING)
7. The convergence of government and private enterprises (through the use of human,  physical, economic resources)  to attain public support could help out. (PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP)

The rural information services in China supported by the government has four differnt partnership models. The Association-Cooperation models is one of those.

With support from the government, the Association–Cooperative consists of farmers in an area who are in need or interested in the same types of information. Due to the commonality of interests, they form either a specialized association or a specialized economic cooperative on a voluntarily basis that they then manage.

This type of group centers around one crop or animal or some other commodity in common. The association or cooperative provides members with information services before, during and after the production of a certain type of agricultural product with the intent of improving their production and increasing their income.

Although narrow in focus, the information service covers a range of technical, market and policy issues. Some associations and cooperatives also purchase production materials for members and offer marketing services for farm products.

The updated report on Agricultural Information Services in Rural China is at press, while the previous report can be found at www.fao.org/docrep/007/ad504e/ad504e00.htm

 

In a country like Sudan and the public sector is fragile so to be supportive : 1- Create partnership with private sector or NGOs for ICT infrastructures and reach out. 2- Clear standards and regulations to facilitate the process of IT uptake. 3- Creating awareness among producers organization. 4- Providing the needed information at time. 5- Create health environment for ICT investment.

Dear All

We have seen that ICT can help Producer Organizations (PO) better serve their member needs trough improving access to information, access to input and output markets, etc.. ICT can also help PO to have their voice heard.

We have seen the priority areas PO should invest in with regard to ICT.

Now what is it that the Government should do for PO to invest in ICT? Of course training, capacity building. In addition what should the Government do to create a conducive socio-economic environment for PO to invest in ICT. What type of IC infrastructure? What legal environment? Should Government provide subsidies for PO to buy cell phone or to by cell phone contracts? or for PO to have a radio for themsleves? or for PO to produce films, music, video etc. etc.?? 

 Hi sir,

In the Philippines what I know was that, there was an ICT Roadmap Plan of the previous administration, entitled " Empowering a Nation  through ICT" if this is followed and implemented   I believe the accessibility, availability,interoperability and  sustainability of the  producers organization will not be a problem.

 PO to have a radio for themselves, actually it is quite expensive, from securing permit to operate, building  and maintennance of radio station.

Produce films, music and other audio visuals materials are  quite feasible with today's technology.

 

HI abaguilar, thank you for sharing this info with us.  I believe a commitment to strengthen the capacity of rural cooperatives and producer organizations, as well as encouraging government to establish favorable policies, legal frameworks and participatory processes to promote growth and sustainability will help.

The weakness of producer organizations is their over-dependence on government or donor support.  It is time to identify conditions that will help these member-based organizations to become more self reliant and sustainable business enterprise.