[quote="Lisa-Cespedes"] The Economic Report on Africa 2009 (ERA 2009) is organized into two parts: Part I examines global economic developments and their implication for Africa (chapter 1), analyses recent economic and social trends (chapter 2) and highlights emerging development challenges to the continent in 2008 (chapter 3). The thematic part of this edition of ERA, Part II , is devoted to the issue of regional value chain development and starts with a discussion in chapter 4 of the need to address challenges to developing African agriculture in the context of the Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) of the African Union's New Partnership for Africa's Development (AU/NEPAD). ERA 2009 then focuses on the question of how to enhance structural transformation of African agriculture through systematic efforts to develop regionally integrated value chains and markets for selected strategic food and agricultural commodities (chapter 5). Finally, the report urges African governments to operationalize commitments to develop agriculture, and suggests strategies The Report: http://www.uneca.org/eca_resources/Publications/books/era2009/ [/quote] I have read the The Way Forward part of the long report.This part summarizes the findings/outcomes and also recommends the interventions for the development of value chains in Africa.I am very happy to note that these recommendations/interventions are also applicable for most Asian countries including Bangladesh. I hope the international communities and governments will meticulously examine the report and take a collaborative program to achieve a harmonized development in the field of value chains.

[quote="Lisa-Cespedes"] ICT enabled Food Supply Chains Article by Dr. ( Ms.) Sapna A. Narula Asstt. Professor College of Agribusiness Management G.B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar Uttarakhand,India Article Attached [/quote] I think a concise definition of value chains,their salient features and operational procedures may help the participants to contribute more specifically.May I request Lisa and Sapna to do the favor? Regards, Zainul

[quote="Lisa-Cespedes"] Dear Participants, please tell us a bit about yourselves here. [/quote] I am Zainul from Bangladesh.Working as technology transfer person. I find this discussion very useful for evaluation and formulation of ICT interventions for agricultural value chains. I welcome all participants for their enthusiastic contributions.

[quote="sapnaaroranarula"] The impact of ICTs on the agri value chain are multifarious. Let us analyse it in two ways ; Impact on backward linkages: The ICTS can assist in providing relevant information about procurement of agri-inputs, prices of agri-inputs and also the launch of new products and brands. They can be aware of new technologies / good agricultural practices. ICTs can also make the farmers aware about the various various Government schemes on agriculture finance/ health etc. Impact on forward linkages: ICTs can really help the farmers to link to the markets.First, they can be aware of the new markets , domestic as well as exports and can reach the alternative channels Next, ICts can help in price discovery and this is the most important area as far as farmers of developing countries are concerened as due to lack of awareness of prices prevalent at various mandis ( agricultural markets) they are unable to sell their produce at premium prices All this can really help to make the chains efficient and systems more transparent and empower the farmers in these countries. Please feel free to ask or share anything Thanks Sapna [/quote] Thank you Sapna for the nice points.Could you please elaborate some of the benefits with specific examples if possible with quantative terms?

Thanks for the very lively discussion.I am ZAINUL from Bangladesh.Working as a scientist in NARS. My suggestions for mobile telephony for the future are: 1.Introducing cheaper but larger mobile phone sets particularly for rural farm people considering their levels of education and background.Larger texts and images may help increase the understanding of the contents. 2.Developing and administering contents in various formats (as texts,picture and voice forms)so that the receivers of the messages can get messages repeatedly in an integrated manner for proper understanding. 3.Local agricultural scientists/technologists should be available nearby to make the contents understandable and applicable in the field situation. 4.Farmers' Field Schools (FFS)or Farmers' Clubs are to be integrated with the mobile telephony for discussion of technolgy and information. 5. FM Radio station or Television station may be integrated with the mobile telephony service points to provide locally applicable technologies and information. 6.Laptop or PC or other forms of video devices may be used at the FFS to supplement the mobile based messages/contents. 7.The IT companies must consider the rural clients specially and develop devices to serve their diversified purposes on the basis of targeted Research and Development instead of sporadic and chance use by the rural peoples.Present models of mobile phone sets have been designed for entertainment with song,video games and other appilactions in addition to exchance of conversations. Thanks for the opportunity for sharing my views.

:) [color]I feel mobile phone alone may not be an effective tool for achieving success in the transfer of agricultural technologies.Other conventional and novel tools must be integrated for a holistic development.Before assessing the success factors,we should have identified the parameters or aspects of development of rural areas or agricultural domains. In this context,I think that the use of mobile phones help the of agriculture in the urban areas too.So,exclusion of urban area from the conference agenda may be a partial exercise.I propse the organizers to consider my point sympathetically. Best Regards, Zainul[/color]

[color]Hope to enjoy your contribution.Could you give a concise report on the telecentres that are being operated by your organization?I will appreciate any information that are being given to the farmers through mobile phones,the language and contents of agricultural technologies and the impact of the initiative achieved so far.You may kindly mention if any study has been done to evaluate the efficacy of mobile phone as a tool for disseminating agricultural technologies. Best Regards, Zainul :) [/color]

Thanks Pete for your nice description.I am very confident that,your eclectic background will be very useful for the current session of e-agriculture on mobile telephoney. Best Regards, Zainul :)