1. The Biovision Farmer Communication
Programme
Integrating Innovative and Interactive
Methodologies in Popular Extension Approaches
in Africa
David Amudavi
Coordinator, Biovision Farmer Communication Programme,
Nairobi, Kenya

2. Background
The Farmer Communication Programme (FCP) was initiated in 2010
with the support of the International Centre of Insect Physiology
& Ecology (icipe) and Biovision Foundation of Switzerland to
harness synergies among the various information projects
managed independently to ensure that knowledge, information
and findings are rolled out in a practicable format to farmers,
practitioners and other users.

3. Goal, Vision and Mission of FCP
Goal: Improve the livelihoods of small scale farmers in Africa by
systematic application of scientifically and experientially
validated technologies and practices.
Vision: Sustained and productive smallholder agriculture of the
highest quality in terms of enhanced food production, nutrition,
incomes, as well as sustainability.
Mission: Advance and improve access to information on
sustainable agriculture through innovations that improve
profitability, stewardship and quality of life.

4. Objectives of the FCP
1. Enhance synergy among the information communications
projects and link them to other information providers.
2. Create centres of excellence in rural information and
knowledge services linked to livelihood improvement R&D
programmes/projects.
3. Support building of technical capacity of information
change agents in R&D programmes/projects.
4. Engage strategic partners to scale up access to and
utilization of information on appropriate innovations in
various sectors of sustainable agriculture.

5. Theory of Change
Information Productive and
Farmer Deficient & Sustainable Farming
Communication Programme underperforming System
Farming System
-
 Enhanced access to
information, findings, •Limited information about  Higher yields
knowledge on innovations technologies, practices,  Higher incomes
(technologies, practices, systems  Improved and stable
systems, etc) •Poor decision making food security
 Efficient information delivery •Low technology adoption  Improved nutrition
infrastructure •Low technology adaptation  Stable environment
 Enhanced access to inputs & •Poor livelihoods  Improved welfare
outputs markets
 STRATEGIC R&D PARTNERS

6. FCP Innovations for Information
Communication
Projects:
1.Infonet-Biovision platform
2.TOF Magazine and Mkulima Mbunifu (TOF Tanzania)
3.TOF Radio and social media/sms answering service
4.Outreach Communication and Awareness
5.Developent and Advocacy

7. FCP Projects
A) Infonet-Biovision platform
Infonet - an internet-based information platform
 An online resource and with
an offline system built with
the aid of experts from
reputable national and
international research
organizations.
 The platform contains detail
on PLANT, HUMAN, ANIMAL
and ENVIRONMENT HEALTH.
For example, it covers more
than 40 crops and a range of
issues such as environmental
management, malaria control,
and nutritional illnesses
 The applications offer
trainers, extension workers
and farmers quick access to
up-to-date and locally relevant
information.

8. FCP Projects – Cont’d
B) Print: The Organic Farmer
(TOF)
The magazine is produced
every month and distributed to
a readership of over 200,000
receiving concrete guidance
and practical tips on how to
use simple, cost-effective and
environmentally friendly
practices.
C) Radio: TOF Radio
 A weekly radio show in Swahili
treating relevant topics in
coordination with TOF
Magazines.
 TOF Radio is received in Kenya
and Tanzania and has up to 5
million listeners.

9. Farmer Resource Centers/ i-TOFs:
 Community-anchored and run information service
Equipped with computers and laptops (OLPC) that use solar panels – to
overcome problems of ICT infrastructure landscape
Facilitate processes of learning and acquiring technical knowledge on certain
agricultural practices as well as business management skills
Provide entry points for farm-to-market-chain-links (FMCL) – ICTs in the centre
could be used in the short to mid term in improving access to markets.
Such centres could easily graduate to offer services such as fax, internet, typing,
printing, scanning, and they are information centres, more like a research library.
Through this market-farmer-extension service interaction, high yielding input and
innovative practices can be communicated to farmers, and major agricultural
markets can inform farmers on required product specifications .

10. Farmer Resource Centre in KARI Katumani, Machakos

11. Community/participatory Video
Participatory media development and multimedia, video
communication in the establishment of rural-to-rural
communication flows, networks and hubs for innovation
uTube: Infonetbiovision folder:
∗Several videos in Kikamba and English languages
∗One video documenting the example of one successful farmer
using drip irrigation in her fruit farm that has resulted in contacts
from US and Switzerland offering support and markets for
passion fruit.
∗Katoloni CBO is following up to connect more farmers to the
same export opportunity.

12. Development and Advocacy
Issues we lobby and advocate for:
∗Millennium development goals
∗A world free from Hunger and poverty
∗Promote the 4 ICIPE Health pillars
∗Changing coutse in global agriculture
∗Reversal of Global warming
∗Healthy food and nutrition security for all

13. Why Organic and sustainable?

14. Infonet approaches for outreach 1
* Community
Information
workers (CIWs)
Using OLPC
Computers and
Studying together
With farmers

15. Infonet approaches for outreach 2
∗ CIWs managed by Katoloni Mission
CBO collaborating with KARI Katumani
Katoloni mission CBO
increased membership
from 70 groups in 2010
to almost 300 groups in
2012 due to services
rendered to the
community – bridging
the gap between Resource Centre
Research and In KARI Kakamega,
Application. Western Kenya

16. Infonet approaches for outreach 3
∗ Community based organization:
SINGI CBO – Busia, Kenya.
Support: 1 OLPC computer
with content loaded.
Later worked with cd only,
No other support. Increased membership from 25 groups in
2010 to 35 groups in 2012 including 6 youth groups.
Through EOA Initiative, one desktop computer and printer
added
∗ Farmer Groups:
2 Farmer Groups received an OLPC with uploaded content.
Approach was unsuccessful due to internal group
dynamics in both cases

17. Infonet approaches for outreach 4
∗ Ministry of Agriculture
∗ Agricultural Information Resource Centre (AIRC)
∗ Agriculture shows – providing space in their stands at the
shows – a win-win situation.
∗ Training Extension officers – giving out cd’s and promoting the
use of them.
∗ Networking – instrumental in getting many very good
connections within MoA
∗ Kilifi Kenya – one extension officer provided with OLPC
computer – very interesting feed back

18. Infonet approaches for outreach 5
∗ Through other partner organizations:
 Kenya National Federation of Agricultural Producers
(KENFAP)
 Kenya Agricltural Research Institute (KARI)
 Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI)
 Kenya Network for Draught Animal Technology
(KENDAT)
 African Conservation Tillage network (ACT)
 Sustainet,
 Call center – KenCall

19. New Information
∗ Kinangop 2012 in Central Kenya – 90% farmers in the
area 40 years or below! – Most young people more or
less IT compliant. They wanted a young person to be
in charge of Information center.
∗ Mbale – Western Kenya. Survey showed average soil
pH about 3.5, with too many places as low as 3.0. –
Lacking affordable sources of Lime – only alternative
to improve is going organic

20. Sustainability of FCP
To achieve a sound and sustainable FCP, strategic efforts and
partnerships are needed in terms of:
1. Content development and quality control processes
2. Outreach activities to enhance farmers’ access to
information and communication tools (e.g. Farmers’
resource centres, information hubs, call centres)
3. Technical capacity building in information processing,
packaging and delivery
4. Resource mobilization of both technical and financial
resources - advocacy, networking and multi-sectoral
collaboration

21. New Information
∗ Kinangop 2012 in Central Kenya – 90% farmers in the
area 40 years or below! – Most young people more or
less IT compliant. They wanted a young person to be
in charge of Information center.
∗ Mbale – Western Kenya. Survey showed average soil
pH about 3.5, with too many places as low as 3.0. –
Lacking affordable sources of Lime – only alternative
to improve is going organic

22. Conclusion
∗ Great interest from users in accessing verified
information directly or through CIWs
∗ Shortages of points of contact (Computers accessible
to farmers in rural areas) as well as basic training
∗ Great potential for scaling up giving access to
appropriate information – Hunger for new workable
solutions to problems in rural areas

23. Farmer’s Statement
”Going Organic is
like returning to Eden”
Mary Wanjiru Waweru
Farmer from Murang’a,
Kenya, explaining about the
benefits of organic farming
Thanks for listening
www.infonet-biovison.org,
www.organicfarmermagazine.org
http://biovisionafricatrust.org