WhatsApp 9892124323 ✓Call Girls In Kalyan ( Mumbai ) secure service
i-Network Presentation
1. ICT4RD: 7th Annual SANGONet
Conference
November 01 – 03, 2011
Wanderers Club
Johannesburg
South Africa
2. 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
3. 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
Presented by: Richard Okuti
4. 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
Presented by: Richard Okuti
5. 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
6. 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
Presented by: Richard Okuti
7. 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
Presented by: Richard Okuti
9. Review of
High Level
Farmer Establishing a
Groups baseline
(HLFG’s)
Selection of
Awareness
sample
creation
farmers
Development
of Business Information
Plan collection &
Usage
Training Participatory
feedback
Presented by: Richard Okuti
10. Activity & A due diligence was done to understand the nature,
Findings 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 & Farmers were encouraged to select an enterprise as
Recommendations a team to be able to produce large quantities
Presented by: Richard Okuti
11. Activity & Due to limited resources only three HLFG’s groups
Findings 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
Actions & Land hire was considered as an option in addition to
Recommendations joint enterprise selection and lead farmers for
translation
Presented by: Richard Okuti
12. Activity & Assessment of availability, validity & usage of
Findings 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
Actions & Farmers needed to learn to process more specific
Recommendations information and increase linkages with research
organizations and service providers
Presented by: Richard Okuti
13. Activity & Awareness was created specifically in understanding
Findings 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
Actions & Attitude change & handholding was to be
Recommendations introduced
Presented by: Richard Okuti
14. Activity & The groups working with I-Network developed plans
Findings 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
Actions & Groups were advised & coached to research, plan,
Recommendations keep records, project production & market
appropriately
Presented by: Richard Okuti
15. Activity & The training topics were jointly agreed
Findings
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
Presented by: Richard Okuti
16. 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
Actions & Leaders and farmers were guided through the
Recommendations actions agreed including information collection &
dissemination, record keeping and marketing
Presented by: Richard Okuti
17. Activity & Farmer groups moved to include information
Findings 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
Actions & A new part of the plan that was not originally
Recommendations included was activated
Presented by: Richard Okuti
18. 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
Presented by: Richard Okuti
19. Activity & A workshop convened to discuss the project &
Findings 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
Presented by: Richard Okuti
20. 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
Presented by: Richard Okuti
21. 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
Presented by: Richard Okuti
22. 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
Presented by: Richard Okuti