ICTs for Agricultural Livelihoods: Impact and Lessons Learned from IICD Supported Activities

This booklet highlights the lessons learned and achievements of the International Institute for Communication and Development (IICD) and its partners in using information and communication technology for development (ICT4D) to support agricultural livelihoods. It is part of a series of IICD reports on the use of ICT4D in various sectors with the hopes to contribute to a better understanding of the opportunities of employing ICTs and their contribution to reaching the Millennium Development Goals.

Agriculture, because it provides income and food for a large segment of the population in developing countries, has been the focus of ICT projects to enhance production and increase market orientation. The projects described in this booklet were carried out by IICD and its partners over a six-year period and provide examples of the many ways in which ICTs contribute to poverty alleviation in the agriculture sector.

The booklet addresses information-related problems of the small farmer including lack of accurate information on prices and markets for products as well as limited access to problem-solving information on production and marketing processes. Lessons from 35 IICD-supported projects implemented in a systematic, participatory, and incremental manner are analysed for the extent of benefits, user satisfaction, beneficiary gender balance, the extent of increased human capacity, and economic impact.

Based on these lessons learned, strategic communication recommendations for future project implementation and for policy processes to support future activities are included under the headings:

Use a participatory and integrated project design.

1. Identify clearly the information needs.
2. Facilitate active participation of the users in the formation phase.
3. Monitor the profile of the user group and redirect project activities if necessary.
4. Monitor the gender balance and ensure participation of women during the formulation and implementation.
5. Ensure that the project is aligned with the core business of the implementing partner.
6. Build a budget for maintenance.
7. Ensure project support for at least several years.

Foster ownership.

1. Take time to build relationships and a conducive working environment.
2. Negotiate conditions of the partnership including roles, tasks, and outputs.

Ensure availability of relevant content.

1. Provide information that addresses local needs: content specific, delivered in a timely- and accurately-presented form in an appropriate language.
2. Develop and disseminate local content complemented by information from government, civil society, research institutions, and networks.
3. Carry out research of local socio-cultural attitudes towards information, communication, and technology before implementation.
4. Track information use by simple monitoring methods.
5. Focus initially on one or two types of information in order to build up a relevant information service for the user group.
6. Foster two-way information flows to validate content.

Include continued capacity for development.

1. Focus training on practical project-related tasks and the local situation.
2. Address technical and 'soft skills,' including project management. Relevant components are the use and management of information, developing and maintaining ICT systems, and the use of ICT in the organisation and development process
3. Continue capacity development efforts during the project.
4. Develop a mechanism for training and support to provide partners with access to knowledge and skills when external support ends.

Use various ICT options.

1. Seek suitable connectivity solutions and combine new and traditional ICTs where appropriate.
2. Focus on the sustainability of ICT. Explore cost-sharing options for satellite connectivity among various local groups. Fees from casual use may be used to subsidise services for farmers.
3. Monitor new developments in ITC hardware, connectivity and information systems.

Include learning and knowledge sharing mechanisms.

1. Document and share experiences on the use of ICTs in agriculture.
2. Develop mechanisms for learning between partners and other practitioners
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Integrate ICTs at the organisation level.

1. Address sustainability from the project start to ensure integration of strategic objectives and implementation programmes.
2. Set realistic goals and be aware that projects go through phases.
3. Start with content that is easy to produce and relevant to farmers and disseminate it via appropriate combinations of media while building capacity and infrastructure for more advanced internet-based systems to support agricultural livelihoods.
4. Involve decision makers of the partner organisations in the process.

Mainstream ICTs in the agricultural sector.

1. Raise awareness of the government and the international donors on the potential impact of ICT on poverty alleviation and provide them with experiences.
2. Collect and document evidence of impact and experiences of ICT pilot projects as a basis for influencing and participating in the policy processes and integration of ICT in national policies and programmes.
3. Involve multi-stakeholder networks to bring experiences of ICT projects and end-user perspectives from the agricultural sector.
4. Foster national integration in an international context to harmonise standards and systems for sharing agricultural information."