Hello everyone, and thank you for starting off this discussion today!

As the facilitator for this two week forum, I welcome everyone and encourage everyone to share their own ideas and experience.
 
If you have any questions or need assistance, you can write to me directly at [email protected]

Keep in mind that this discussion is building on the ICT in Agriculture Sourcebook, published by the World Bank. It is an excellent resource.

Please focus on the issue in question 1 when answering here. There are 4 more questions coming that will allow for the discussion of many more issues. The upcoming questions will be:

Question 2: Identify some of the critical actors/stakeholders in agricultural and rural finance or micro-insurance, and how they can use ICT to extend the positive impact of these products and services in rural areas.

Question 3: ICT is quite important in value chain finance. How can ICT play an even greater role in enabling strategic VC partnerships to work in facilitating efficiency and/or inclusiveness in agricultural finance and insurance? What are the key challenges in getting partners systems to operate seamlessly, including VC players and VC service providers, including financial institutions, insurers, warehouse managers, agri market information provider, etc.?

Question 4: In what ways other than discussed in questions 1 and 2 does ICT enable rural financial services, agricultural investment, insurance and technical support?

Question 5: What are the key regulatory challenges, both on the mobile phone and banking/insurance, in using ICT to deliver agri loan and insurance products? What does it take to overcome these challenges?