The implementation of ICT in Agriculture and Rural Development in South Africa

Dr Roelof de VilliersManaging Director

Manstrat: Agricultural Intelligence Solutions (PTY) Ltd

20 to 23 May 2012

AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY SERVICES IN SOUTH AFRICA

•Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) with +/- 2000 Extension

Practitioners in the 9 Provinces

•Local Authorities with Local Economic Development Department and agriculture

as development component

•Non-Governmental Organisations with an agricultural focus and Advisors

•Agricultural Consultants

•Agricultural Training Providers providing Training and Support Services

•Agro-industry with advisors

Large scale commercial farmers

Smallholder farmers Subsistence farmers

Range of support to all levels of farming

AGRICULTURE IN SOUTH AFRICA

Commercial Farmers : 40 000

Smallholder Farmers : 250 000

Subsistence Farmers : 1 200 000

ESTIMATED TOTAL : 1 490 000

Estimations of total number of farmers ranges from 1 300 000 to 2 100 000

PERSPECTIVES ON SUPPORT

FARMERS

• Advisors visit once and never see

them again

• Do not provide relevant advice

• Feel neglected

• Low level of trust

• Implementing inappropriate systems

ADVISORS

• See challenges but unable to find

solutions at the office

• Lack of access to information

• Embarrassed to return to farmers with

no appropriate solution

• Inappropriate information from

available sources

• Information in inaccessible archives

Farmers annoyed with Advisors

Advisors avoiding farmers

DEVELOPING AN AGRICULTURAL INFORMATION SYSTEM

1990

2000

2012

199

5

200

6

200

8

200

7

200

9

201

0

HR+LED

HR+LED+AGRIC

ESO Framework

ESO for Clients

2011

Extension Suite Online is an internet based (online) information system developed for agricultural Advisors to provide them with information on every possible aspect of agriculture right there where and when they need it - on the farm.

The system is simple to use and enable Advisors to assist farmers immediately when assistance is needed, without having to go back to the office to find information. The information and solutions to problems are distributed via the internet to devices such as notebook computers (laptops), pc’s, cellular telephones as well as other internet enabled handheld devices. Since it is available on the internet, it is distributed by means of cellular telephone networks, landline distribution as well as wireless systems. It is available wherever there is some kind of connectivity and where no such connectivity is available, and fore low bandwidth users, a light, small footprint version is available.

It was developed and is maintained by agricultural Advisors, for Agricultural Advisors and provides relevant and appropriate information for African conditions.

EXTENSION SUITE ONLINE

NOTEBOOK

CELLULAR TELEPHONE

OFFICE PC

CELLULAR TELEPHONE NETWORK

INTERNET

MANSTRAT INFORMATION CENTER

INTERNET SERVER

DISTRIBUTION

LINKING FARMERS, EXTENSIONISTS AND RESEARCHERS

ESOStudentversion

ESOFull

version

ESOFarmersversion

AgricColleges

University

Extension

Call Centre

Farmers

Man

stra

t Inf

orm

atio

n C

entr

e

DAFFResearch

ParastatalResearch

PrivateSector

Research

InternationalResearch

COMPLETE RANGE OF INFORMATION

RIGHT THERE ON THE FARM AT THE

MOMENT WHEN IT IS NEEDED

UTILISATION

423 000 PAGES IN 18 MONTHS

981 EQUIVALENT BOOKSHEIGHT OF 29 METERS10 STORY BUILDING

29 m

30mm

FEEDBACK FROM EXTENSION PRACTITIONERS

The Farmer now has confidence in the information that I supply to him. ESO is the tool for information one cannot learn at school. ESO gives me the opportunity to have information ready, immediately without having to search for days. ESO is an information bank on the go. - Soyisile Mtombela I can use ESO with confidence and I do a lot of research on it for farmers. My relationship with my clients has improved and it has given me confidence to supply information to farmers. One does not need piles of books to do research, you can go directly to the information that you need. Extension Suite Online gives you confidence in your knowledge. It is an excellent Extension Friend. - Lesego Phakadi Extension Suite Online has enhanced my relationship with farmers immensely, due to the load of information that is available. It is a brilliant source of information and my duties have become easier since I have relevant information immediately at hand. - Vukile Ggodwana

FEEDBACK FROM EXTENSION PRACTITIONERS (Continued..)

I do research on Extension Suite Online to advise farmers and I also provide assistance to other extension officers who have not yet been registered on Extension Suite Online Extension Suite Online is an excellent and very important program in my life, a true library in your hands. - Mthobisi Jackson I can now supply the farmers that I serve with more accurate information. - Jabu Baloyi Extension Suite Online has given me the opportunity to become more assertive in my work in communicating knowledge to farmers. It gives me a way to convey information in a simpler, more understandable medium to farmers and I have learned that I can get information on a farm, by just knowing the farm’s name. Just by the click of a mouse you can solve a farmer’s problems in the field within seconds. - Sindile Magoda The great thing about Extension Suite Online is that you can go onto the system immediately; while you are on the farm, to help a farmer with information on diseases, production and many more subjects, this factor has had a positive influence on my work with the farmers. - Thommy Malongane

Roelof de Villiers Tel:012 460 2499, Cell: 082 894 6085, E-mail: roelof@manstrat.co.za