Advisory for Change in Agriculture in Madagascar (AKAMA)

By providing information for farmers in the local Malagasy language, Advisory for Change in Agriculture is working to reinforce extension services and improve the farming industry in Madagascar. The website is designed to be an information source and includes themes related to both general and more specific agricultural topics, from natural resource management, to processing, post-harvest preservation, and marketing. The website presents the information with text, graphics, audio, and video in Malagasy in an effort to be as accessible as possible. The idea is that small-scale farmers would be able to research any agricultural theme in the format most suitable for them, and even download multimedia content for later viewing or listening. The site also includes details of projects, organisations, institutions, and farmers’ associations that practise, disseminate and/or provide agricultural training, along with the types of courses offered.

While based around the website, AKAMA's main aim is to supply multimedia content with the web as the means of diffusion. According to AKAMA, many extension officers have to travel large distances (tens of kilometres, often on foot). They can waste a lot of time trying to find village leaders and organising community gatherings. They can also run up a lot of expenses trying to find a solution to farmers’ problems, which in the end is not appropriate as it requires more specialised knowledge. AKAMA seeks to reduce the distances, waiting times, and costs, while still offering farmers the benefit of effective information.

In order to reach a wide range of people, the website was advertised for a month on local and national radio stations as well as in local newspapers. In order to encourage interactivity, users send suggestions and questions, which the team try to deal with and incorporate in regular updates. Farmers also meet with partner organisations to provide further feedback. As estimates show that only 2% of the population in Madagascar has access to the web and low levels of literacy make it difficult for farmers to make good use of text on the web, AKAMA has started working with farmers’ associations, related organisations, the media, and existing projects that have the financial and logistical means to convey the information to farmers. By working with a network of organisations, AKAMA hopes to highlight what information is already available and, just as importantly, point out what is missing, lacking quality, or difficult to access.

Agriculture, Technology