[quote="Lisa-Cespedes"] Question 5 (14 Dec.) What suggestions do you have for integrating ICT into agricultural value chain development projects and programs? What consideration must be given to the people, institutions and processes that are impacted by the introduction/use of ICT? [/quote] 1. Based on my experience ICT alone cannot play any role unless otherwise projects are executed in chronological manner. Benefits of ICT integrated into agricultural value chain initiatives can suggest the following roles; 2. More active role of PPP (Public Private Partnership) must be encouraged. There should be a common though process by offsetting each ones gaps (what public entity could do private entity cannot and vice-versa). 3. I strongly suggest local communities, SHG, NGOs, and cooperatives to be actively involved in introduction of ICT including farmers, suppliers, retailers. Since they are the ones directly impacted, they must be consulted at all times for their invaluable inputs, knowledge sharing, learning from experiences, and much more. 4. Proper & accurate surveying needs to be conducted in the local geographical area for soil quality & testing, crops harvesting, weather patterns, use of agricultural equipment. 5. Training and education relating to making the best use of land, equipment, high quality yields, optimal production capacity at lowest costs. 6. Encouraging & educating farmers to procure best quality agricultural products (fertilizers, pesticides, equipments) for high yield and returns at affordable costs. 7. There needs to be a sense of trust and accountability among the communities and all the stakeholders. 8. Awareness campaigns, group meetings, discussions on the factors like geographical, political, financial, cultural also needs to be taken into account. Thanks, Ryhan

[quote="Lisa-Cespedes"] Question 4 (10 Dec.) What are the real drivers of success for the use of ICT (in value chains) in rural areas? What challenges are faced in these situations? [/quote] Lisa, A significant driver for success is collaborating with private entrepreneurs (Public Private Partnership) and generating their interest to develop and deliver the ICT services. Combined objective is to create, develop, and deliver services to meet the basic needs of local communities. Despite the fact that in India, many projects have failed due to non-involvement of local organizations (NGOs) and other social welfare organizations, still we are making significant progress at a gradual rate as we continue learn from the lessons & experience. Challenges include lack of knowledge, ignorance, poverty, economies of scale, lack of education and reach of technology. Thanks, Ryhan

Hi, I am Ryhan Ebad based out of Toronto, Canada. I am involved with the major Mission Mode Project (MMP) of Govt. of India under NeGP (National eGovernance Plan) with a great objective to make all the government services available to every citizen on India. Pilot project involves setting up about 100,000 Common Service Centres (CSCs) nation wide with an idea of bridging the digital divide harnessing ICT. It is a concept similar that of Telecentres. I believe that this forum would focus on the issues of agriculture and developmental stand points of creating value chains. I look forward to learn and contribute to this forum based on all perspectives. With Regards, Ryhan

As the fact of the matter is, too little is known about the impact of the mobile telephone on the people. Mobile phones increase the ability to coordinate activities, especially across remote sites. This means that it is no longer necessary to conduct communications from an office desk. The mobile phone has radically transformed these boundaries, making them increasingly permeable. Mobile phones are not purely tools of the trade or means of organizing domestic chores.They are also crucially the instruments of leisure. Outside the workplace and domestic sphere, the mobile phone's role within leisure and an expanding consumer culture - most obviously amongst younger generations - is visible everywhere. There is no invention that has provided more distinct opportunities in innovation for development than the mobile phone. The mobile phone has traditionally offered voice and data transfer tool to connect people. With improving capabilities and cheaper rates, it is a domain that provides a powerful space for innovation and, as it is subject to lower financial and educational barriers, provides a potentially wider sphere of influence than the internet has to date. Latest innovations exhibit convergence between telecommunication services, the Internet, media content and broadcasting. New generation phones now combine media and information products with digital broadband networks, increasing the"scope for interactivity and user customization of services'. As digital technologies penetrate more intimate domains of personal and business life, it is reasonable to expect significant and unforeseen innovation. Mobile Health is another potential of mobile telephony to bring health care to the front line.There are several distinct facets of mobile health today: the possibility for almost real time communication and two-way information, the access capabilities that effectively jump the distance barrier between patient and doctor and the widening of the health sector to leverage public and private sector, allowing new roles to emerge and non traditional actors such as mobile network operators, to become involved in the value chain to provide innovative ways to develop health care. Mobile health can add efficiency/efficacy to existing systems, facilitate new systems, and ultimately transcend health care benefits across society. For example, in Latin America and the Caribbean of the 360 million who live on less than US$300/month, 160 million are mobile phone subscribers. This allows direct interactive access capabilities to these groups for the first time. Though not a universal remedy, this is a real opportunity to improve health systems and benefit the majority.

There could be four main areas of focus for mobile telaphony like mobile entertainment, mobile commerce, wireless business solutions and rural applications. The first set of rural applications may include mobile pay phones, mobile reporter for data collection, wholesale rate updates to obviate the role of middlemen in rural commerce, SMS printers as an alternative to telegrams and public information display boards. The other potential areas include real time weather information, agriconsulting, and real time crop prices.