Comments on: Can ICTs aid small-scale farmers? http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/11/24/can-icts-aid-small-scale-farmers/ The world is talking. Are you listening? Wed, 15 Feb 2012 14:27:58 -0500 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: John Liebhardt http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/11/24/can-icts-aid-small-scale-farmers/comment-page-1/#comment-1603442 John Liebhardt Wed, 02 Dec 2009 04:03:31 +0000 http://globalvoicesonline.org/?p=107146#comment-1603442 @Mark: That's a great point, Mark. We are near the end of a pretty long project documenting how ICTs can positively affect human development. I forgot to mention in my text about the most effective means of all: the mobile phone. Here are a few posts where we cover the mobile phone: http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/10/20/ict4d-when-mobile-phones-link-with-computers/ http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/11/03/the-future-of-ict4d-how-soon-is-now/ http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/10/12/what-future-for-ict4d/ @Casper. I also think it's quite strange that no one is out there questioning the efficacy of ICTs. Perhaps the problem is simple: When people don't have access to them, they can't really join the conversation to complain about it. I also think that many of the ideas I've covered in this series provide more help to development agencies and NGOs than they do for regular people. I don't have anything to back that up, it's just a hunch. As Mark points out above, we should be concentrating on the mobile phone, the one piece of technology that nearly everyone can get a hold of. @Mark: That’s a great point, Mark. We are near the end of a pretty long project documenting how ICTs can positively affect human development. I forgot to mention in my text about the most effective means of all: the mobile phone.
Here are a few posts where we cover the mobile phone:
http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/10/20/ict4d-when-mobile-phones-link-with-computers/
http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/11/03/the-future-of-ict4d-how-soon-is-now/
http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/10/12/what-future-for-ict4d/

@Casper. I also think it’s quite strange that no one is out there questioning the efficacy of ICTs. Perhaps the problem is simple: When people don’t have access to them, they can’t really join the conversation to complain about it. I also think that many of the ideas I’ve covered in this series provide more help to development agencies and NGOs than they do for regular people. I don’t have anything to back that up, it’s just a hunch. As Mark points out above, we should be concentrating on the mobile phone, the one piece of technology that nearly everyone can get a hold of.

]]> By: ICT4Dはrealistic （現実的） それとも hype（課題広告）？ « ICT for Development.JP http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/11/24/can-icts-aid-small-scale-farmers/comment-page-1/#comment-1603354 ICT4Dはrealistic （現実的） それとも hype（課題広告）？ « ICT for Development.JP Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:02:01 +0000 http://globalvoicesonline.org/?p=107146#comment-1603354 [...] 目を通したトピック中の一つに、Can ICTs aid small-scale farmers?という題名で、情報共有を促進するWeb2.0ツールにより農民が農業技術や天候などを知ることが容易にり、生産性を向上できるといったことなどが書いてあった。でも自分の興味をひいたのは、ICTのメリットそのものよりも、最後の方に述べられている「本当に農民がICTの活用で裨益するのか？」という点。「ICTの可能性は認めるが、途上国の田舎に住む農民は、ICTにアクセスできる環境にない者が大多数である。」という指摘などが紹介してあった。 [...] [...] 目を通したトピック中の一つに、Can ICTs aid small-scale farmers?という題名で、情報共有を促進するWeb2.0ツールにより農民が農業技術や天候などを知ることが容易にり、生産性を向上できるといったことなどが書いてあった。でも自分の興味をひいたのは、ICTのメリットそのものよりも、最後の方に述べられている「本当に農民がICTの活用で裨益するのか？」という点。「ICTの可能性は認めるが、途上国の田舎に住む農民は、ICTにアクセスできる環境にない者が大多数である。」という指摘などが紹介してあった。 [...]

]]> By: Casper Knudsen http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/11/24/can-icts-aid-small-scale-farmers/comment-page-1/#comment-1603253 Casper Knudsen Mon, 30 Nov 2009 22:04:48 +0000 http://globalvoicesonline.org/?p=107146#comment-1603253 Very nice points! I feel quite attracted to the thought of believing that web 2.0 could be a way to support positive social change in the poorest areas. However, as you point out there are obvious problems in terms of accessibility etc - but I'm thinking: is this really the only level of criticism in the debate? I have not been able to find any other discussion than this... I find it unlikely and peculiar... Very nice points! I feel quite attracted to the thought of believing that web 2.0 could be a way to support positive social change in the poorest areas. However, as you point out there are obvious problems in terms of accessibility etc – but I’m thinking: is this really the only level of criticism in the debate? I have not been able to find any other discussion than this… I find it unlikely and peculiar…

]]> By: Mark http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/11/24/can-icts-aid-small-scale-farmers/comment-page-1/#comment-1602443 Mark Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:38:29 +0000 http://globalvoicesonline.org/?p=107146#comment-1602443 Some very interesting points. I think it important to mention that the technology most accessible to rural farmers will probably remain to be mobile voice and sms services for the next few years. Should we not also be asking how we can better integrate high tech ICT solutions with simple mobile phones on the ground? Some very interesting points. I think it important to mention that the technology most accessible to rural farmers will probably remain to be mobile voice and sms services for the next few years. Should we not also be asking how we can better integrate high tech ICT solutions with simple mobile phones on the ground?

]]>