i-network presentation

ICT4RD: 7th Annual SANGONet

Conference

November 01 – 03, 2011 Wanderers Club Johannesburg South Africa

The I-Network Uganda is an ICT4D knowledge sharing and expertise organisation

The I-Network has been in existence since 2002 with the support of The International Institute for Communication Development (IICD) - Netherlands

More resources are shared on http://www.i-network.or.ug , Newsletters and publications

Presented by: Richard Okuti

http://www.i-network.or.ug/



I-Network has organised several thematic, topical and learning seminars in the years

The team has also worked with government at policy level (National Planning, Regulation) & local government level as well as various Development Partners

I-Network has largely encouraged the development of other projects like the ICT Consumer Association among others


E-Administration

Capacity building of local governments in use of desk top computers

Optimising resources through network use

E-Society

Capacity building in the use of ICT for documentation, communication and transparency

Creating opportunities for CSO’s, LG’s and Private sector to collaborate in service delivery


RIS – Rural Information Systems in collaboration

with Uganda Commodity Exchange

Capacity building of farmer groups in access to and use of ICT

CME – Continuous Medical Education in

Collaboration with Uganda Catholic Medical Bureau

Capacity building in the use of ICT for documentation of learning materials

Digitizing learning materials Presented by: Richard Okuti

Objectives;

To improve understanding of the commodity value chain

Improve understanding of the importance of market intelligence

Increase commitment among beneficiaries to generate accurate production information

Provide other cooperatives with a learning toolbox


Target;

12 cooperatives with 8000 farmers around Uganda as a pilot

Local Government & community leadership

CBO’s and NGO’s

Expectations;

Improved access and use of market intelligence

Informed decision making

Increased participation in production planning & production management, bulking and marketing

Higher revenue and value addition


The Process, experiences

and lessons

of RUMI



Review of

High Level

Farmer

Groups

(HLFG’s)

Selection of

sample

farmers

Establishing a

baseline

Awareness

creation

Development

of Business

Plan

Training

Information

collection &

Usage

Participatory

feedback

Activity & Findings

A due diligence was done to understand the nature, skills and knowledge of the HLFG’s leaders The groups were smaller than anticipated There was a high population in some areas

Lessons The review formed a good basis for further preparation of the I-Network team

What emerged Leaders and sample farmers had to be involved were selected for the pilot. A third group was included

Actions & Recommendations

Farmers were encouraged to select an enterprise as a team to be able to produce large quantities


Activity & Findings

Due to limited resources only three HLFG’s groups were selected for the pilot project further more with in the groups were sample farmers Noted different locations faced Land fragmentation was a common practice

Lessons Land fragmentation created a productivity challenge making it low and expensive

What emerged Language barriers were identified


Land hire was considered as an option in addition to joint enterprise selection and lead farmers for translation


Activity & Findings

Assessment of availability, validity & usage of market information Farmers were aware of market information Use was limited due to access challenges Information more importantly was not specific Sometime late information

Lessons Specific information needs were poorly addressed

What emerged Weather had become a very serious information concern, many were ignorant about irrigation


Farmers needed to learn to process more specific information and increase linkages with research organizations and service providers


Activity & Findings

Awareness was created specifically in understanding how to apply information on especially in market & intelligence aspect, the changing dynamics of producing for the market

Lessons Most knowledge sharing was exploitative and was mainly shared by shrewd business people Farmers were more keen on handouts and not knowledge

What emerged Practical demonstration of using market intelligence became a key motivator for change


Attitude change & handholding was to be introduced


Activity & Findings

The groups working with I-Network developed plans The groups didn’t have plans Groups were created for marketing and sales

Lessons Planning was not popularly used Most farmers depended on nature

What emerged Another training item was to be included on the agenda


Groups were advised & coached to research, plan, keep records, project production & market appropriately


Activity & Findings

The training topics were jointly agreed The training included; The farmers were trained to identify sources of information and how to access it Repackaging & translation for members Accessing production data Business planning (Each group made a plan) Work plans, roles & responsibilities Findings Knowledge in written format was not going to be shared easily Many members had not studied business concepts


Lessons Creativity was key in sharing knowledge such as

use of illustrations, translations and scenario’s

What emerged A need to create linkages with entire value chain actors became apparent


Leaders and farmers were guided through the actions agreed including information collection & dissemination, record keeping and marketing


Activity & Findings

Farmer groups moved to include information collection and use in their plans Interest was however low due to poor appreciation of information at the moment

Lessons Motivation to change was limited Linkages were to practically be arranged

What emerged Farmers needed more support in actualizing linkages


A new part of the plan that was not originally included was activated


Group 1 I-Network worked with the group to develop a funding proposal, it was to be used to lobby for funding in the local banks

Group 2 Motivation to change was limited Linkages were to practically be arranged

What emerged Farmers needed more support in actualizing linkages

Recommendations A new part of the plan that was not originally included was activated


Activity & Findings

A workshop convened to discuss the project & documentation for other potential beneficiaries The approach was appreciated The process of change would take time

Lessons Change is slow and painful The cost of access to information was quite significant (fees, infrastructure, power etc)

What emerged A need for a bureau of continuous support

Recommendations Integrated extension services including all stake holders may be key


Process This process should be guided by skilled &

knowledgeable persons It involves mapping the farmers value chain and working out a matrix of connections

Learning meetings For continuity the process must be integrated in the day to day activities of the HLFG. Learning should be continuous Experience sharing Handling of emerging issues Taking actions



To implement such an intervention one has to take into consideration

some underlying principles;

Leadership & Governance

Access to and use of market intelligence information

Vision & focus in the group

Knowledge sharing for decision making

Appreciation of business principles

Good infrastructure

Access to technical services

Access to finance


Implementing this intervention these were key learnings;

Land fragmentation can be overcome by joint enterprise selection

Re-packaging and translation of information is key

Water source alternatives like irrigation must be explored

Processing of region/location specific information is important

Attitude towards farming must change

A renewed approach to technical extension services

Coaching and continuous business guidance

Linkages contacts, terms of association/relation and roles key


Questions?


Thank you

[email protected]

P. 0. Box 35112

Kampala Uganda

Mobiles: +256772725252

+256792725252

mailto:[email protected]



i-network presentation

Technology

richard okuti

sample farmers

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access challenges information

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