ICTs for better access to information/knowledge
for Ethiopian livestock keepers
Fanos Mekonnen
ICT4ag International Conference, Kigali, Rwanda
4-8 November 2013

Purpose
Finding ways to improve the access to
information and Knowledge for
smallholder livestock keepers through the
use of ICTs along the whole value chains

IPMS KM approach

Experiences- Knowledge centers
• PCs for easy access to relevant
knowledge
• Experts awareness increased
• 28 centers that reach around
3000 experts established
Challenge- Capacity, acceptance, Language

Experiences- Ethiopian Agriculture Portal
• Online gateway for
Ethiopia’s
agriculture
• Resources in short
circulation got
better feasibility
www.eap.gov.et
Challenge- network
connection, power, content

Experiences- Audio-visual (radio and TV)
• Radio & video
programs for creating
awareness and
knowledge
• 1000s of short
videos on many
topics distributed for
training input &
availed online
Challenge- gender issues

Success
IPMS experienced the big role ICTs play in market
oriented agriculture development interventions in
public extension system by availing the right knowledge
and information at the right time and place.

Next step
Use of mobile phones for
improved production and
management practices and
marketing technologies
E- book readers- kindles- for increasing
knowledge and skill of extension experts

www. ipms-ethiopia.org
www.lives-ethiopia.org