Listening to Farmers

This ICT Update article from the June 2009 Livelihoods issue discusses the work of extension officers in the Pacific region who are working with farmers to produce DVDs, printed guides, and radio and TV programmes in order to strengthen rural economies. The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) launched the Development of Sustainable Agriculture in the Pacific (DSAP) project, which works directly with farmers to identify and test methods for increasing farm production and trains extension workers to use information and communication technologies (ICTs) to record, document, and replicate successful practices used throughout Micronesia, Melanesia, and Polynesia.

The DSAP project works to increase efforts to provide information to farmers using the continual involvement and participation of farming communities. Communities across the region said that they would prefer face-to-face communication with extension officers who should visit regularly to give workshops and practical demonstrations, leaving printed local language materials. When these visits are not possible, communities asked for radio and TV programmes or DVDs to support the work of extension officers. Because conditions vary across the region, often problem consultations and materials need to be developed for the specific area. Therefore, staff from the various extension services attended a range of courses focusing on effective communication techniques and skills, such use of computers and digital cameras. They learned how to: produce printed publications using desktop publishing software, produce videos, and make use of more traditional media - radio, TV, and newspapers - as tools for communication.

The project staff has produced several DVDs demonstrating how to set up low-cost irrigation systems and composting processes, and advocating the use of organic pesticides. Individual country teams are encouraged to work with local broadcasters in order to reach larger audiences. DSAP Tonga, for example, hired a film crew from the Tonga Broadcasting Commission to produce a TV programme on the benefits of velvet bean and simple irrigation systems, which has been broadcast twice on national television. Project staff in Wallis and Futuna have been involved in producing TV programmes on market gardening, while other country offices are producing weekly radio programmes on agricultural topics.

The DSAP project has also established eight resource centres across the region equipped with computers and printers, and employ local staff who have received specialised training on how to access information and produce new printed materials. The centres are open to farmers and extension officers, which provides an opportunity for community members to interact with project staff.

According to the authors, "Much of the success of the DSAP project, however, has come from the improved cooperation between the extension services of the participating countries and their collaboration with NGOs [non-governmental organisations] supporting rural development in the Pacific. The project has supplied equipment and ICT training to encourage colleagues to keep in touch, and the staff now regularly use email, phones, faxes and, of course, face-to-face meetings to communicate their stories and share experiences. Technology has helped to strengthen the links between country offices, as well as to build networks linking community groups, farmer groups and other information providers, including local health centres and schools."