Convergence of web-based applications, radio and cellular phone: some perspectives and experiences in Africa

Convergence of web-based applications, radio and cellular phone: some perspectives and experiences in Africa Hilda Munyua, Edith Adera and Mike Jensen

Local environment realities in Africa Few extension officers and old extension system inefficient Most small scale farmers are resource poor Limited access to advanced technologies. Innovative technologies developed do not filter down to the intended beneficiaries High production and transport costs, and low agricultural production Inadequate access to markets and unfair market conditions Small scale farmers Inadequate capacity to share and disseminate essential outputs to small scale farmers Limited value addition to agricultural produce

Local environment realities About 1/3 of the population have access to cellular phones Poor access to technical agricultural and market information and knowledge Inadequate ICT infrastructure (electricity and telecommunication) especially in rural areas Gaps in skills and illiteracy High costs of connectivity Inadequate and weak ICT policies Poor access to appropriately packaged local content Poor connectivity and low bandwidth ICTs Others Radio the most widely used ICT Weak institutions and poor collaboration Inadequate local content

Emerging ICTs

Radio frequency identification (RFID)

Internet & web-based applications

Precision agriculture (next great revolution in agriculture)

Distance learning

GIS-based Decision Support Systems

Personal digital assistants (PDA)

Cellular phone applications

Community radio stations

Opportunities

Rapid development of ICT infrastructure (sub marine cables, wireless and satellite technologies)

About 1/3 of the population has access to cellular phones

Liberalization of airwaves and mushrooming of FM radio stations in local languages

Use of local languages improves understanding

Availability of some locally developed content

Convergence of ICTs (internet, radio, cell phones, multi-media)

Some practical examples

Internet and web-based applications

Cellular phone applications

Community radio stations

National Farmers Information System (NAFIS)

Developed by the National Agriculture and Livestock Extension Programme (NALEP) in Kenya

Integration of web-based and telephony applications

Voice information service providing extension information to farmers

Simple - dial 020-4762347 or

020-47NAFIS

… NAFIS

Provides access to timely agricultural information

Information on enterprises available in English and Kiswahili

Cost implications – cost of telephone call

Available on internet at www.nafis.go.ke

Tradenet

Developed by Busylab - a private company based in Ghana (partnership with the Market Information System and Trade Organisations (Mistowa) in West Africa and Foodnet in Uganda)