"This article outlines the potential mechanisms through which ICT could facilitate agricultural adoption and the provision of extension services in developing countries. It then reviews existing programs using ICT for agriculture, categorized by the mechanism (voice, text, internet and mobile money
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transfers) and the type of services provided. Finally, we identify potential constraints to such programs in terms of design and implementation, and conclude with some recommendations for implementing field-based research on the impact of these programs on farmers’ knowledge, technological adoption and welfare." (Abstract)
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"This toolkit is geared towards helping food security professionals develop a communication strategy and communicate more effectively with their target audiences. Specific sections of the toolkit focus on policy makers and the media, because of the important role they play in implementing and influe
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ncing food security policies. The toolkit also looks at specific information products such as policy briefs, reports and early warning bulletins, and suggests ways to structure and improve them. A section on writing effectively, which focuses on grammar and style, makes sure that written documents are easy to read. Finally, the toolkit gives tips for using the internet, social media and Web 2.0 tools [...] While aimed at professionals working in food security related fields, the lessons in this toolkit can easily be applied to many other fields." (Introduction)
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"The African Farm Radio Research Initiative (AFRRI) was a 42-month action research project implemented by Farm Radio International (FRI) in partnership with World University Service of Canada (WUSC), and with the support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. An estimated 40 million farmers in five
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different countries were served by the AFRRI partnership with 25 radio stations. Farmers engaged in the design and development of farm radio programming were almost 50 per cent more likely to take up agricultural practices deemed to improve their food security than passive listeners. Those in what AFRRI deemed "active listening communities" (ALCs) were 10 times more likely to adopt the practice than those farmers who had no access to the farm radio programs. Farmers demonstrated increased knowledge of agriculture innovations as a result of listening to AFRRI radio programs, with up to 96% of some radio listeners scoring at least 60% on a follow-up knowledge quiz about the promoted farm practices [.] Farmers participate in selecting the focus – or topic – of the radio campaign, choose the time of broadcast, and are intimately engaged in the ongoing development of the farm radio programming over a set number of weeks; including as central agents of the knowledge-sharing process. Lively and entertaining formats are designed to attract listeners. [.] This report presents and discusses the key findings from an in-depth evaluation of 15 round-two Participatory Radio Campaigns (PRCs) – three PRCs in each of the five countries involved in AFRRI. AFRRI examined a mix of radio stations – community, associative, commercial, and state. Tools used for this evaluation included 4,500 household surveys (300 per radio station) in 90 communities, farm visits and field measurements, key informant interviews, and collection of secondary data (from other sources, such as national agricultural extension services)." (Executive summary, page 5)
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"Farmers require varying marketing information, depending on their location, local market conditions, crops, production activities, and cultural practices. Radio has the capacity to reach a large audience, and can provide an integrated approach to market information, incorporating all these elements
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in its programming. Radio can help farmers link to new markets and buyers, strengthen their ability to negotiate prices and help them adapt crops to meet demand. Private sponsorship that emerged in response to the popularity of MIS radio programs suggests a sustainable funding model is possible. A survey of approximately 1000 household representatives living in listening communities showed that an average of 64.8% of respondents were aware of the MIS radio programs, and 84% of those who listened found the MIS radio programs to be 'very useful." (Executive summary, page 5)
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"Low cost, modern information and communication technologies (ICTs), including mobile phones, multifunction MP3 recorders, and interactive voice response (IVR) can dramatically increase the capacity of rural radio to help farmers improve food security in Sub-Saharan Africa. Weekly SMS alerts sent to
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the phones of listeners 30 minutes prior to a broadcast can boost radio campaign listenership by up to 20%. Two-thirds of partner broadcasters identified the internet as the most important ICT tool in the production of farm radio programs. Farmers who participated in the design and implementation of radio programming with the help of ICTs were four times more likely than those in passive listening communities to adopt agricultural improvements promoted on the radio. 61% of extension agents surveyed said the reach and impact of their extension work was substantially improved because they could be heard on radio programs through call-out programs." (Executive summary, page 5)
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"Participatory Radio Campaigns (PRCs) were developed by Farm Radio International as a way to help farmers learn about, evaluate, and introduce new agricultural practices that they are interested in trying. With training and facilitation support from Farm Radio International, selected radio stations
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work closely with farmers and farmer organizations, agricultural extension and advisory services, researchers and others to carefully plan and deliver a four-six month radio campaign. During the PRC, farmers are able to explore, exchange knowledge, gain information and share experiences with a new agricultural practice that can improve their family’s food security. Lively and entertaining, PRCs feature the voices, stories and perspectives of ordinary farmers through a mix of radio formats, including panel discussions, vox pops, village debates, phone-in shows, mini-dramas and music. Farmers provide feedback and are involved in monitoring and evaluating the PRCs throughout. New Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) such as cell phones, MP3 players, interactive voice response systems, and bulk SMS messaging systems are linked with radio to boost the interactivity, reach and accessibility of PRCs." (Page 2)
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"Este es un libro que abarca diferentes enfoques, modalidades y metodologías de extensión de ayer, de hoy, con visión de futuro. Hace revivir la teoría de difusión de innovaciones y el proceso de innovación-decisión. Además, hace mención a metodologías y medios tradicionales de extensión
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como visitas a finca, reuniones grupales, giras, días de campo, radio y televisión así como a las modernas tecnologías de la información y la comunicación (TICs). En la parte final del libro y en sus anexos, se da atención especial a la evaluación económica y social de sistemas de Extensión Rural, con énfasis especial en el Proyecto “Manejo Sostenible de Recursos Naturales”, que ejecuta el Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería del Paraguay con la Cooperación Técnica y Financiera de la República Federal de Alemania." (Presentación, página 13)
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"INUKA’s primary objective was to address the interests and needs of the rural producers in the CC. Capacity building of radio staff proved to be an essential element to overcome the shortage of tailored expertise on agriculture and rural related radio programming and marketing. Listeners gave a p
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ositive feedback about the informative content and the varied design of INUKA based on the “program clock”, including different segments of the program. The experience has also shown that it is easier to work with local content providers through a network of regional correspondents. The end line survey (done by Synovate) shows that about 275,000 households were regular listeners of the INUKA radio program [...] A second main pillar of the intervention was its commercial aspect. The radio program aimed to attract advertisers and sponsors, who previously had no way of reaching the rural agricultural market, to achieve a level of financial sustainability. Several private companies responded to the incentive by placing advertisement during different program segments promoting their goods and services. However, a part of the sponsoring revenues came from organizations that are themselves donor-funded. Also, individual programs’ cost accounting proved to be a difficult practice for the radio partner to adopt and thus it was unclear on how much funding is needed to create a model program and amount of income needed to sustain it. Nevertheless, the evidence shows that so far, the revenue streams cannot guarantee financial sustainability of the program. The third aim of the project was to serve as a model for other programs and media houses and change their perception about the rural audience. There are several changes on the sub-sector level to which INUKA seems to have contributed, including; more radio stations are interested to air rural related radio programs and the segmented design (“program clock”) inspired other radio and TV programs. However, it is still early to conclude on the complete impact of INUKA on the media industry and to claim plausible attribution." (Executive summary, page 6-7)
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"O objetivo deste estudo é analisar o rádio comunitário como estratégia de comunicação da Extensão Pesqueira para o Desenvolvimento Local em comunidades cuja pesca é a principal atividade econômica, a exemplo da Ilha de Deus, no Recife, Pernambuco. A análise parte da recepção da Rádio C
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omunitária Boca da Ilha pelos moradores da Ilha de Deus no intuito de compreender as apropriações que pescadores e pescadoras fazem da emissora local e o sentido que essa população dá às mensagens no seu cotidiano observando as possibilidades do uso do rádio comunitário como parceiro em projetos de Extensão Pesqueira." (Resumo)
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"The study found evidence that mobiles are being used in ways which contribute to productivity enhancement. However, to leverage the full potential of information dissemination enabled by mobile telephony will require significant improvements in supporting infrastructure and capacity building amongs
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t farmers to enable them to use the information they access effectively. As mobile penetration continues to increase among farming communities and information services continue to adapt and proliferate, the scope exists for a much greater rural productivity impact in the future." (Abstract)
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"The Gender, Agriculture and Rural Development in the Information Society (GenARDIS) small grants fund was initiated in 2002 to support work on gender-related issues in information and communications technologies for the African, Caribbean and Pacific regions. GenARDIS recognises the constraints and
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challenges encountered by rural women, and has disbursed small grants to diverse and innovative projects in order to counter these barriers, to document the process and results, and to contribute to more gender-aware ICT policy advocacy. GenARDIS has supported projects which are as diverse as the countries where they are located. Over the years, GenARDIS has learned from and documented projects such as women’s community radio drama groups, pest control through information access, and using technology to promote women’s inheritance and land rights. Grantees have supported deaf women in Ethiopia to generate their own income through digital photography, and enabled rural mothers to earn additional income for their families because they can market to buyers from outside their community. In some areas, women small farmers are no longer being taken advantage of by the middleman as they now get a fair price for their crops by sending a simple SMS." (Pages 5-6)
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"Africa Rice Center (WARDA) facilitated the development and translation of 11 rice videos. From 2005 to 2009, WARDA partners translated them into more than 30 African languages. Open-air video presentations enhanced learning, experimentation, confidence, trust, and group cohesion among rural people.
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The videos strengthened capacities of more than 500 organisations and hundreds of thousands of farmers. WARDA's integrated rural learning approach also helped women to access new markets and credit. Learning videos allow for unsupervised learning; unleash local creativity and experimentation; facilitate institutional innovations; and improve social inclusion of the poor, youth, and women." (Abstract)
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"This paper discusses the effectiveness of farm radio as a tool for enhancing access to agricultural extension services by small scale farmers in Malawi. It outlines the current agricultural extension policies, methodologies and the role that radio can play in improving food security and communicati
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on for rural farmers. The study further explores the challenges faced by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in utilizing radio, while also addressing opportunities for improvement and recommending strategies for enhancing farm radio initiatives." (www.academia.edu)
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"The main objective of this booklet is to provide an overview of current initiatives and projects focusing on Communication for Development applied to natural resources management and agriculture in the region, assess the main challenges, and identify links and opportunities to strengthen their coll
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aboration and further advance Communication for Development in the region." (Preface)
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