mobile technologies for food security, agriculture and rural development: role of the public sector
DESCRIPTION
New information and knowledge are critical inputs for the practice of agriculture the world over. This is especially true for resource-poor farmers living in rural areas of developing countries. Yet most of these farmers are not only resource poor but also information poor. Believing firmly that mobile-based agricultural information systems hold great promise for agricultural advisory services, FAO has been working with partners to improve their positive impact. Through a series of discussions hosted by the e-Agriculture Community (www.e-agriculture.org) and in regional events, a set of recommendations have been developed. New partnerships to further this work are welcome!TRANSCRIPT
Developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) with the e-Agriculture Community (www.e-agriculture.org)
Presented by Michael Riggs, 5 November 2013
ICT4Ag Conference, Kigali, Rwanda
Mobile technologies for food security, agriculture and rural development: Role of the public sector
Why Focus on Mobiles
Mobile phones in rural areas
The potential of mobile technology to benefit rural communities and improve food security is certain.
In 2000, 25% of all mobile phones were in developing countries.
Today 75% of all mobile phones are in developing countries.
Resources
Partners’ experience.
e-Agriculture content:http://www.e-agriculture.org/mobile-telephony-rural-areas
FAO publication:
Mobile technologies for food security, agriculture and rural development: Role of the public sectorAvailable in PDF format at: http://www.fao.org/docrep/017/i3074e/i3074e00.htm
Mobile-based information delivery holds great promise and is either being considered or is in use as an important channel for agricultural advisory services, financial services, and other essential information in rural communities.
Clear policies need to be formulated by governments that define the principles for their involvement in the development of MAIS, taking into account national communication policy or information and communications technology (ICT) policy. Of necessity, this requires collaboration between the agricultural and telecommunications sectors of government.
FAO and Mobile Technologies
Providing global public goods (agricultural information) is a critical role of the pubic sector.
Partnership with the private sector has proven to be an essential mechanism for the public sector to develop MAIS sustainably. The roles and responsibilities for the private and public sectors have to be clearly defined in each particular case, preferably through a formal written agreement. The most frequent split of roles is that the content is provided by one, while a Value Added Service and the delivery mechanism is handled by the other.
FAO and Mobile Technologies
Trustworthiness and reliability of the public sector information and advice delivered through MAIS is of paramount importance to the people whose livelihoods depend on actions influenced by what they receive. Policy guidelines to ensure the validity and accuracy of the technical information and advice provided must exist. Appropriate processes are needed to ensure the reliability of the information and advice provided by the public sector through MAIS, potentially including quality control by government-approved experts.
FAO and Mobile Technologies
Accountability for the quality (correctness and accuracy) of technical information and advice delivered through MAIS should be formally recognized by the respective public and private sector actors involved. This accountability should be defined in any partnership agreement between the actors in MAIS.
Lessons learned and good practices must be regularly captured and disseminated nationally, regionally and globally through various mediums, such as brochures, television and radio, and communities of practice, so that practitioners and countries can benefit from the experience of others.
FAO and Mobile Technologies
Special consideration must be given to literacy and gender to ensure technology does not expand divides.
Ideally, agricultural information services should be platform independent, because technology-specific services impose requirements on potential audiences and can greatly limit accessibility.
FAO and Mobile Technologies