Changing information flows
Information, and access to it, is one of the most valuable resources in agricultural development. The demand for information is as great today as ever. However, support for agricultural extension is decreasing, while many new ways of delivering information are becoming available. The mesage is that all available means, from ICTs, to the spoken and written word should be made use of to enable communities to access, share and exchange experiences in sustainable agriculture.
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4 - 5written by ILEIA editorial teamInformation, and access to it, is one of the most valuable resources in agricultural development. The demand for information is as great today as ever. However, support for agricultural extension is decreasing, while many new ways of delivering information are becoming available. The mesage is that all available means, from ICTs, to the spoken and written word should be made use of to enable communities to access, share and exchange experiences in sustainable agriculture.
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6 - 8written by John FarringtonOver the last 50 years, many changes have been seen in agricultural extension. This introductiuon describes the history and development of extension provision, and also looks to the future.
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9 - 10written by Katherine Morrow , Pat MooneyThe challenge for those working at grasstroots level is to understand the choices offered to them by investment in ICTs and to make informed decisions. ICTs are becoming more widespread in rural areas and have a lot to offer.
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11 - 12written by Uganda National Farmers' FederationThe Uganda National Farmers Federation has grown to become the main representative of farmers interests in Uganda. Services to members include providing agricultural advice and information, providing trainings and organising agricultural fairs among others activities. This article describes the roles and structure of the Federation and UNFFE is trying to bring farmers and agricultural companies together. These new alliances are an interesting route towards being a demand-driven, cost-recovery agricultural advisory service.
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13 - 15written by Parkie MboziParticipatory Ecological Land-Use Management (PELUM) Association is a network of 138 civil society organisations working in nine countries in eastern and southern Africa. `Ground Up` is the magazine launched in 2000 by PELUM in response to the information needs of its members. The magazine is being used to share field experiences and to network with like-minded organisations in the region. It is also a tool for advocacy and a means of popularising participatory ecological land-use management. Just two years and 8 issues later, the impact of Ground Up as a source of information and inspiration is commendable. A recent evaluation of the publication is explicit in pointing out that the magazine has filled a gaping hole in African media.
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16 - 17written by Armorer WasonFarmers in Tadjikistan face enormous challenges since independence. Most of the rural population rely on household plots of land for their domestic consumption. Despite considerable constraints, a radio series, Farmer-to- Farmer has been able to respond to some of theier informaiton needs, through interviews with farmers and agricultural experts. The role of juornalists is difficult, and the radio will need continued support, but the initiative has been successful in terms of providing much needed information, and producing clear and accessible materials.
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18 - 19- Search the Web by Email - Web Access by Email - Translation of Email by Email - Reading and Converting PDF Files
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20 - 21written by Nancy BennetRadio has long been used as a community tool, providing information, news and a place to air views. This article describes how an initiative to connect distant communties in Canada by radio was adapted for use in other countries. This then led to the development of the Developing Countries Farm Radio Network, in which almost 100 countries now participate. Reliable and relevant information is provided and public discussion is promoted. Because it is cheap and easy to access, radio is a very relevant technology for reaching farmers.
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22 - 24written by Monica Janowski , Kaz JanowskiThe `In the field` series broadcast on the BBC World Service in 2001 and 2002 is an example of a fruitful partnership between researchers, broadcasters and funders in communicating innovations to a wider audience. It is also an excellent example of using different media to get the best impact - a radio series complemented by a website, printed booklet and audio cassettes. The 12 programmes in the series feature interesting initiatives in bringing about innovative improvements to livelihoods around the world. The response to the series and the requests for educational material is a good indicator of how useful the information is to the listeners. The follow up to the series in terms of rebroadcasting in local languages and development of appropriate educational material will not only ensure that the information reaches more people at village level, but also that it will be translated into action. Many more of such partnerships are needed to get valuable information to the people who need it most.
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25 - 25written by UNESCOIn Sri Lanka, the Kothmale community radio station serves a population of around 200,000. They decided to try to combine community radio with the Internet. Broadcasters would browse the internet and discuss the information in the local language. Internet access was also provided at local libraries. The project has succeeded in bringing the benefits of the internet to a rural population. Many people have now opened email accounts to keep in touch with distant relatives, while farmers as well as nurses have found information useful to their work. Efforts are now being made to sustain funding for the initiative.
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26 - 27written by Katherine Morrow , Pat MooneyIn a recent interview, Pat Mooney shared his views on information technology and the way the Internet can be used to disseminate research and conduct advocacy campaigns. As such, it describes how one organisation includes the Internet in its communications toolkit, while acknowledging its limitations.
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28 - 30written by Katherine Morrow , Pat MooneyThe Information Villages project connects 10 villages in Pondicherry, India, through the use of modern ICTs. The project was started in 1998 by the Swaminathan Research Foundation and has gained international fame for its success in bringing the benefits of modern ICTs to the rural poor.
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36 - 36written by Ann Waters-BayerThis article describes the experience of bumping into a well worn and well-read issue of LEISA Magazine in Ethiopia. This highlights how for many people in rural areas, the printed word is still the only form of information they receive, and often these sources are read and used by many inidividuals. In the age of mobile telephones and the internet, the spoken and printed word is still very important.
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