ICT applications in Philippine Agriculture: experiences and insights
2009
Zagado, R.G. | Tado, C. | Barroga, R.F. | Quilang, E.J. | Asis, O.R.M., Philippine Rice Research Inst., Maligaya, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija (Philippines). Open Academy for Philippine Agriculture
Farmers' inadequate access to new rice production technologies is a major constraint to improving rice productivity in many areas of the country. As most of these farmers are smallholders scattered in rural areas, it is difficult to reach them by the traditional methods of extension alone. New strategies are therefore required to effectively disseminate relevant information on appropriate technologies to farmers in the countryside. The Open Academy for Philippine Agriculture (OpAPA) Program, an alliance of various government and private organizations with PhilRice as the lead agency, was established to develop, test, and promote ICT-mediated extension modalities. For five years of operations now, OpAPA had generated quite a number of ICT models and applications and found their viability by testing them in wide and complex landscapes through the cyber communities established across the country. Some of the ICT learning tools developed and tested are e-learning, website, e-forum, Mobile Internet Bus, Content Management System, Farmers' Text Centers, stand-alone CDs, and e-Commerce. Several lessons were drawn out from program in terms of users, content design, and connectivity. Recommendations are formulated on how to effectively implement any ICT-mediated extension service.
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