Online Forum 17-28 September 2012: Using ICT to enable Agricultural Innovation Systems for smallholders

Forum: "Using ICT to enable Agricultural Innovation Systems for smallholders"

ICT can expand communication, cooperation, and ultimately innovation among the wide array of actors in agriculture. This forum builds on Module 6 of the "ICT in Agriculture Sourcebook", and it intends to explore how ICT can improve the concepts and operations discussed in the Agricultural Innovation Systems Sourcebook.

The discussion will explore:

• What ICT innovations are being used for farmers to access and exchange the information they need, and for service providers to provide information to farmers? 
• What factors make ICT-based advisory services for smallholders sustainable? 
• How does ICT facilitate knowledge generation, documentation, and sharing in support of farmers and of farmer innovations? 
• What evidence exists of smallholders using and/or benefitting from ICT-based advisory services? 

These issues as well as others and examples of successful projects will be discussed and brought together in a report used to inform GCARD 2012 and SOFA 2014. The e-Agriculture discussion is open to the participation of everyone.

 A group of distinguished experts will join the discussion, including:

• Laura Drewett, ESOKO 
• Aparajita Goyal, World Bank 
• Bruce Kisitu, KIVA Agro Supplies Ltd 
• Ajit Maru, GFAR 
• Karin Nichterlein, FAO, Research and Extension Branch 
• Paul Nyende, AgriNet Uganda Ltd 
• Enrica Porcari, CGIAR 
• Saravanan Raj, GFRAS 

 Join the discussion starting September 17 at http://www.e-agriculture.org/forums/current-forum