Shahid Akbar Bangladesh Institute of ICT in Development (BIID) Bangladesh
Thanks all for excellent contributions.
The past experiences, mainly if we see the pilots, there are many successful initiatives at pilot phase but during scaling up, we dont see those in action after the pilot phase is over. Specially, the fancy use of ICT in market information services created lot of hype and only market driven approaches and government led initiatives sustained in the long run. There might be couple of challenges which never considered in many of the mobile based information services, like, information and advisory services in production (input, pest management) related issues are fairly possible to provide appropriate or near-appropriate information. But in case of Market price, it is very crititcal, in case of persihable agriculture produces under traditional marketing / trading system, small farmers have limited role to play with the price info. Rather, traders and bulk buyers are sometime more benefitted by using the mobile network. It has been experienced that even if the farmers have information on better price but due to many issues including logistics like storing facility, transport or due to need of cash etc. farmers have to sell produces at 'low' price than the 'original' price.
Based on our e-krishok experience, we consider that "framing" of the service in mobile based market information proposition is very important. And it depends fully on the local dynamics and eco-system of the market.
Considering these, in Bangladesh, we (BIID) are working with both farmers as well buyers & other value chain actors to ensure benefits of mobile based information services for the farmers. Our e-Krishok project, in collaboration with Grameen Phone (Telecom Operator), ACI Limited (Agro Business) and Katalyst (Market Facilitator) extending the existing mobile based information service to market linkage. Interestingly, government is also now showing their interest to introduce this service (e-Krishok) in the ICT centres (managed by local government) after seeing the benefits, scale and sustainability of the initiative.
Thanks all for excellent contributions.
The past experiences, mainly if we see the pilots, there are many successful initiatives at pilot phase but during scaling up, we dont see those in action after the pilot phase is over. Specially, the fancy use of ICT in market information services created lot of hype and only market driven approaches and government led initiatives sustained in the long run. There might be couple of challenges which never considered in many of the mobile based information services, like, information and advisory services in production (input, pest management) related issues are fairly possible to provide appropriate or near-appropriate information. But in case of Market price, it is very crititcal, in case of persihable agriculture produces under traditional marketing / trading system, small farmers have limited role to play with the price info. Rather, traders and bulk buyers are sometime more benefitted by using the mobile network. It has been experienced that even if the farmers have information on better price but due to many issues including logistics like storing facility, transport or due to need of cash etc. farmers have to sell produces at 'low' price than the 'original' price.
Based on our e-krishok experience, we consider that "framing" of the service in mobile based market information proposition is very important. And it depends fully on the local dynamics and eco-system of the market.
Considering these, in Bangladesh, we (BIID) are working with both farmers as well buyers & other value chain actors to ensure benefits of mobile based information services for the farmers. Our e-Krishok project, in collaboration with Grameen Phone (Telecom Operator), ACI Limited (Agro Business) and Katalyst (Market Facilitator) extending the existing mobile based information service to market linkage. Interestingly, government is also now showing their interest to introduce this service (e-Krishok) in the ICT centres (managed by local government) after seeing the benefits, scale and sustainability of the initiative.
Thanks