Hi Anne,

Yes, farmers (the older generation) may be less educated, yet, some members of their families who are sent to school can help their parent-farmers in ICT education or new technologies that could help them in their farming activities.  This may sound ideal, but I know some far-flung people who are ICT-illiterates and depend on their children on being oriented/educated even on the simpler types of technology.

Sansu

 

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.

Sir Pierre, 

Just a little turn around in ICT. 

It is widely acknowledged (in academics and in practice) that radio as an ICT product is still an effective medium to connect people even with geographic distances.  Producer organizations can still and should take advantage of this medium despite the popularity of internet and mobile phones (which also have their limitations in rural areas where power and connection signal can be irregular or poorly accessed) because farmers still regard radio as their source of information.

The operation of local radio networks would serve the purpose of reaching the farmers locate, match their produce with the market demands, and perhaps, invite exchange of information through interactive/participative programs aired over the radio.

Hi yitzhak613,

Yes, just like in advocacy work, mobilization is an effective strategy to be included in priority areas for the producer organizations to consider.  It is through mobilization that people find support in their endeavors, especially, if it is coupled with networking with the right groups to promote the product/services of the cooperatives, for instance, in the agriculture sector. 

In mobilization and networking strategies, the use of ICT will be crucial to the producer organizations if they are to attract supporters and  members alike who have the necessary resources they are willing to share.

Hi Koy,

i just wanted to add, if this is possible, for the extension program you mentioned, that since the government introduced to the education section (in high school and elementary levels) the adoption of XO laptops, and the teachers were trained on the use of this new technology that is to be adopted in schools, why not do the same in the agricultural industry as part of the extension program?

The provision of XO laptops to selected school children is a product of a public and private partneship in the promotion of ICT education in schools. 

I'm just wondering if this could also be possible for adult classes, specifically, members of the producer organizations?  Sure, it would entail a lot of effort to teach/introduce ICT to farmers, as the saying goes, "it is not impossible to acquire learning when the mind and spirit are open to learning new things".

Hi Dolly!

Yes indeed!  Public-private partnerships in the Philippines is starting to take off, as the private sector is tapped to partner with the government, esp. in infrastructure projects like the building.improvement of the roads in the rural areas, making the transport of goods from the farm to the market more accessible and easy both for the producers and consumers.  If the delivery of goods and services are facilitated by the government, it would also follow that the costs for the produce would not be sold at higher prices.

What I'm trying to say is, if projects such as infrastructure, ICT or the delivery of services, when it is collaborated by the government and private sector, can go a long way and reach even the least serviced group of people.

There are many ways that that public and private partnership can foster, but it won't either hurt to involve other sectors such as NGOs, academe, and the community to get involved either as recipients or volunteers, in the development process, all of which entails enhancement of skills through training, education (both formal and  non-formal) and other forms of assistance.

Hi Bryan!

I agree with you!

I wanted to say that in my initial post, that technology doesn't have to be high-tech as there are other forms of technology which can be used to bridge the gap between the producers and farmers, especially in marketing their produce.

The traditional media technology can still serve its purpose to benefit the farmers on their end, and there are various creative ways to elicit farmers' participation so as to move them towards better market opportunities.