Raquel Laquiores
| Organization type | kellylaquiores |
|---|---|
| Country | Philippines |
This member participated in the following Forums
Forum Forum: "ICT and producer organizations" November, 2012
Question 2 (opens 14 Nov.)
I agree to your post, Fatima. By training as well, human resource in the agricultural sector will become efficient and effective in their tasks. It is also one of the apprehensions of farmers and even the government when they hear producing ICT for the agriculture sector as in the first place it might just be a waste of their time in learning the skills in the use of ICT. But then if it's well introduced and they get acquianted with its benefits, they would gladly accept it and maximize its use.
Kelly
INTENSIFIED SCHOLARSHIP FOR AGRICULTURE PROGRAMS
With the ballooning population in the country, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) of the Philippines recently launched Project JobsFit: The DOLE 2020 Vision where the specified most in-demand and hard-to-fill jobs in the country are listed. The top priority is in the Agribusiness such as Animal Husbandry, Agricultural Economist, Aqua-culturist, Coconut Farmer, Entomologist (Plant), Farmer (Fruit, Vegetable and Root Crops, Fisherman, Horticulturist, Plant Mechanic, Rice Tresher Operator-Mechanic, Veterinarian, and Pathologist. The department wants to impose that contrary to what most people believe, there are jobs available in the country for the graduates of these programs.
Producer organizations may also look into possibilities of creating scholarships in these programs; or universities and colleges may opt to offer such courses to meet the needs of the land. What I know is that only few take these kinds of courses because it is not well introduced to high school students. Only few universities as well, and solely in the provinces, offer these programs. My son doesn’t even have gardening at school, unlike during our elementary days, because the school replaced it with computer subjects so they are more exposed to this field rather than on the basic and I think much favorable learning that they could use for a lifetime.
www.jobopenings.ph/article_item-367/DOLE_Lists_Most_In_Demand_Jobs_in_the_Philippines.html
Kelly
TELECENTERS FOR AGRICULTURE SECTOR
It would be a big difference putting up a telecenter for Agriculture sector alone. It would be like a manifestation of an earnest corporate responsibility for producer organizations. Though it would demand a careful consideration as it would entail huge financial funding in putting up one yet the benefits are a more informed farmers on the methods on farming; enhanced market range; intensified dissemination of agricultural information, to name a few.
http://extensionconference2011.cta.int/node/143
Kelly
That is very true, Pete!
I remember the topic Knowledge Management and it would really work out in the agriculture sector. But yes, farmers must be educated in order to maximize the use of the computers and the software available.
Kelly
That's very true, Sansu! Having the farmers to be involved in the process of research and be part in the making of solution are ways to expect cooperation from them. Farmers may be trained extensively but without the first-hand experience they may likely be the worse players in the implementation process of any well-funded projects for the agriculture sector.
Kelly
Yes, John! It is very true that internet access is a very big problem the reason why in spite of the proposals or recommendations for the software and even bills to be passed to the senate to develop ICT in agriculture sector, it is still the lack of budget allocated to the department that remains to be the problem. It has to be the priority and must consider being a long term plan so that they could muse that the fund allocated would be worth it though it would cost much than the previously distributed fund.
Thanks!
Kelly
Once ICTs are available and given that the users are well trained in the use of it, I suggest that producer organizations must prioritize to invest on appropriate software which will enhance the collaboration between them and the farmers and form researches and extension services. The easiness and up-to-date sharing of experiences, lessons and even news (especially weather reports) will increase adaptability and accuracy in farming mechanisms. Farmers’ struggles and questions can be answered with a nice dialogue. Another is a software on simple accounting which I believe would be helpful for farmers and will distant themselves with the opportunists mushrooming nowadays.
Readings from:
- http://www.coprokazan.org
- http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/rust/docs/Pakistan_inside%20pages.pdf
- http://www.ictinagriculture.org/ictinag/sourcebook/module-1-introduction-ict-agricultural-development
Kelly
Question 1 (opens 12 Nov.)
Since we are globally networked through ICT, producer organizations are into it. For one, it is a source of data gathering to know even from the voice of the farmers the gaps in scaling up with the trends in farming and other activities necessary in the development of their work for only the farmers can really articulate their struggles and challenges in the projects designed by the institution. In the Including Smallholders in the Agricultural Research for Development (INSARD) Consortium, another problem mentioned is the lack of democracy among farmers for they have differing concerns and not encouraged to speak out. ICT could also be used to partner with the farmers in order to break the gaps mentioned. This is one way in setting up priorities, ensuring the efficiency of the research-driven projects, and delivering the program with easiness and assurance. The sharing of information through radio is indeed very useful as radios are still being used now with convenience that farmers can learn while working. Though I may say that some farmers would just be listening as they probably don’t have the means to communicate whatever they have in mind.
Reference: http://paepard.blogspot.com/
Kelly
I believe that it would be a very exciting and interesting forum. Though I am not directly involved in the agriculture sector, I will be benefited or affected by whatever outcomes this have for us; no matter what happens is unquestionably of importance as I am a consumer. I understand that farmers are key persons in the attainment of a conserved and well used farming resources that we have in the Philippines. There are already a lot of studies and practices done and implemented just to have sustainable development in the agriculture operations but problems are recurring. Yes, I agree that works could be improved with the use of ICT but moreso is the need for collaborative efforts from the government and non governmental offices and the intelligent citizenry, to make as great as possible, the state of growth in the agriculture sector.