3.1 Extension and Information Technology Development

The continuing rapid development of telecommunications and computer-based information technology (IT) is probably the biggest factor for change in extension, one which will facilitate and reinforce other changes. There are many possibilities for the potential applications of these technologies in agricultural extension. Even if every farmer does not have a computer terminal, these could become readily available at local information resource centres. Extension workers can be trained to help farmers to access computers both individually and in small groups. The future will thus call for more able, independent, client-oriented extension workers. The emphasis will be on the quality of interaction between agent and client rather than on the movement of "messages" through a hierarchical system.

Figure 1:Rural Electricity and ICT could create a new opportunity for future of extension


Figure 2: A Rural woman using computers

Recognition of the locale-specific nature of farming systems and the agricultural information systems support the decentralization and devolution of extension services. This recognition also implies that extension workers and farmers can be jointly involved in the verification and adaptation of new technology, and thus that the extension workers acknowledge and respect farmers as experimenters, developers, and adapters of technology. They could thus devote more energy on facilitating communication within their local areas. The devolution of extension services to become local organizations is a reasonable corollary of this. Developments in mass media technology, already apparent over a decade ago, will continue to support this localization of extension effort.

ICT refers to technology which is used for the exchange of data through interaction or transmission. It ranges from radio to satellite, mobile phone. Such tools have become more accessible and affordable for the holder farmer today. ICT enabled extension services are useful for improving the capacity and livelihoods of poor smallholders. One of the best examples of these services is the use of the mobile phone short messaging system (SMS) to provide livestock price information in Ethiopia. This can be expanded into providing information to farmers about commodity prices, and other advisory services from a database with information. ICT-enabled extension services can also be a tool to provide information on local weather forecasts for farmers and pastoralists.

In resource-constrained environments one can use satellites or remote sensors (to gather temperature data), Internet (to store large amounts of data), and mobile phones (to disseminate temperature information to remote farmers cheaply). This would help to prevent crop losses and mitigate effects from natural adversity. Software can be used to support financial management for cooperatives a practice which is becoming more relevant in smallholder farming. Simple accounting software has allowed cooperatives to manage production, aggregation, and sales with increased accuracy.

 

 

 


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This Learning Resource was Created by the Regional MSc AICM Program at the Haramaya University RDAE Department with Support of AgShare Project.