The implementation of ICT in Agriculture and Rural Development in South Africa
Dr Roelof de VilliersManaging Director
Manstrat: Agricultural Intelligence Solutions (PTY) Ltd
20 to 23 May 2012
AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY SERVICES IN SOUTH AFRICA
•Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) with +/- 2000 Extension
Practitioners in the 9 Provinces
•Local Authorities with Local Economic Development Department and agriculture
as development component
•Non-Governmental Organisations with an agricultural focus and Advisors
•Agricultural Consultants
•Agricultural Training Providers providing Training and Support Services
•Agro-industry with advisors
Large scale commercial farmers
Smallholder farmers Subsistence farmers
Range of support to all levels of farming
AGRICULTURE IN SOUTH AFRICA
Commercial Farmers : 40 000
Smallholder Farmers : 250 000
Subsistence Farmers : 1 200 000
ESTIMATED TOTAL : 1 490 000
Estimations of total number of farmers ranges from 1 300 000 to 2 100 000
PERSPECTIVES ON SUPPORT
FARMERS
• Advisors visit once and never see
them again
• Do not provide relevant advice
• Feel neglected
• Low level of trust
• Implementing inappropriate systems
ADVISORS
• See challenges but unable to find
solutions at the office
• Lack of access to information
• Embarrassed to return to farmers with
no appropriate solution
• Inappropriate information from
available sources
• Information in inaccessible archives
Farmers annoyed with Advisors
Advisors avoiding farmers
DEVELOPING AN AGRICULTURAL INFORMATION SYSTEM
1990
2000
2012
199
5
200
6
200
8
200
7
200
9
201
0
HR+LED
HR+LED+AGRIC
ESO Framework
ESO for Clients
2011
Extension Suite Online is an internet based (online) information system developed for agricultural Advisors to provide them with information on every possible aspect of agriculture right there where and when they need it - on the farm.
The system is simple to use and enable Advisors to assist farmers immediately when assistance is needed, without having to go back to the office to find information. The information and solutions to problems are distributed via the internet to devices such as notebook computers (laptops), pc’s, cellular telephones as well as other internet enabled handheld devices. Since it is available on the internet, it is distributed by means of cellular telephone networks, landline distribution as well as wireless systems. It is available wherever there is some kind of connectivity and where no such connectivity is available, and fore low bandwidth users, a light, small footprint version is available.
It was developed and is maintained by agricultural Advisors, for Agricultural Advisors and provides relevant and appropriate information for African conditions.
EXTENSION SUITE ONLINE
NOTEBOOK
CELLULAR TELEPHONE
OFFICE PC
CELLULAR TELEPHONE NETWORK
INTERNET
MANSTRAT INFORMATION CENTER
INTERNET SERVER
DISTRIBUTION
LINKING FARMERS, EXTENSIONISTS AND RESEARCHERS
ESOStudentversion
ESOFull
version
ESOFarmersversion
AgricColleges
University
Extension
Call Centre
Farmers
Man
stra
t Inf
orm
atio
n C
entr
e
DAFFResearch
ParastatalResearch
PrivateSector
Research
InternationalResearch
COMPLETE RANGE OF INFORMATION
RIGHT THERE ON THE FARM AT THE
MOMENT WHEN IT IS NEEDED
UTILISATION
423 000 PAGES IN 18 MONTHS
981 EQUIVALENT BOOKSHEIGHT OF 29 METERS10 STORY BUILDING
29 m
30mm
FEEDBACK FROM EXTENSION PRACTITIONERS
The Farmer now has confidence in the information that I supply to him. ESO is the tool for information one cannot learn at school. ESO gives me the opportunity to have information ready, immediately without having to search for days. ESO is an information bank on the go. - Soyisile Mtombela I can use ESO with confidence and I do a lot of research on it for farmers. My relationship with my clients has improved and it has given me confidence to supply information to farmers. One does not need piles of books to do research, you can go directly to the information that you need. Extension Suite Online gives you confidence in your knowledge. It is an excellent Extension Friend. - Lesego Phakadi Extension Suite Online has enhanced my relationship with farmers immensely, due to the load of information that is available. It is a brilliant source of information and my duties have become easier since I have relevant information immediately at hand. - Vukile Ggodwana
FEEDBACK FROM EXTENSION PRACTITIONERS (Continued..)
I do research on Extension Suite Online to advise farmers and I also provide assistance to other extension officers who have not yet been registered on Extension Suite Online Extension Suite Online is an excellent and very important program in my life, a true library in your hands. - Mthobisi Jackson I can now supply the farmers that I serve with more accurate information. - Jabu Baloyi Extension Suite Online has given me the opportunity to become more assertive in my work in communicating knowledge to farmers. It gives me a way to convey information in a simpler, more understandable medium to farmers and I have learned that I can get information on a farm, by just knowing the farm’s name. Just by the click of a mouse you can solve a farmer’s problems in the field within seconds. - Sindile Magoda The great thing about Extension Suite Online is that you can go onto the system immediately; while you are on the farm, to help a farmer with information on diseases, production and many more subjects, this factor has had a positive influence on my work with the farmers. - Thommy Malongane
Roelof de Villiers Tel:012 460 2499, Cell: 082 894 6085, E-mail: [email protected]
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