New Technologies Support Farmers' Documentation

AGRECOL Andes is a regional information centre based in Cochabamba, Bolivia, which, by focusing on agroecology and the sustainable use of natural resources, aims to share local knowledge and to develop local capability. This includes supporting the analysis and documentation of field experiences, especially local initiatives. This article presents a participatory communication process which used information technologies (ITs) to document methodology where farmers, with the help of digital cameras, documented and exchanged experiences in ecological agriculture, concentrating on topics such as soil management, natural resources, management of native forests, ecological agriculture, irrigation management and fruit growing.

According to the article, AGRECOL had been fostering farmer visits between communities for exchanging specific information from other areas, motivating farmers to copy the agro ecological techniques they had seen. The limitations were: cost, difficulty of freeing women to travel, and lack of information exchange between those who travelled and those who didn't. The AGRECOL organisers noticed that some farmers took tape recorders and more took cameras when travelling on exchanges, and that the photos generated conversation and information exchange. As a result, the project introduced digital cameras as the main technology to be used in the documentation of farmers’ experiences. AGRECOL found several advantages to digital photography: simple use, high-quality results, no waiting, no need for film, no development and low duplication costs.
The organisation then chose a participatory method which would reflect farmer needs and interests and involve the whole community: farmers were to be the authors of a documentary, based on their own experiences and knowledge.

Technology for the process is a computer and a digital camera. The method has three main parts:

1. Collection of concrete experiences on sustainable agriculture. The process starts with all those involved describing the experience. Next, a script is written, defining the main things to be documented and the technology to be used. Having agreed on a basic structure, the documentation is carried out by facilitators chosen by the community (previously trained for the use of the equipment) together with the farmers involved in the experience.
2. Editing the document. The information gathered as audio files and images is organised and put together in a PowerPoint presentation. Once again, this is done by the local facilitators, who have taken part in a training workshop on basic computer skills.
3. Checking and sharing. The process is completed with the presentation of the documentary to the community, where anyone may comment, add or correct what is being presented. The document is later shown in the community and in other communities. These documents can be translated into other document types which do not need a computer or projection equipment, such as handouts or leaflets.

As well as disseminating information within and among communities, the information "also proved very useful for sharing the activities done and the lessons learnt within a household (with their own children), or when trying to get the attention of the local authorities. In some cases, the whole experience proved useful as a marketing technique for their produce," as well as for preparing project proposals and training other farmers.

In conclusion, though information technology is increasing in the rural areas, especially due to the greater spread of IT, the connectivity does not guarantee the spread of local knowledge for sustainable development. This methodology of farmer documentation provides access to information, as well as possibilities for storing and spreading it. It also strengthens local communication skills and relationships with the local authorities and with other development organisations. The challenge is not only the access that rural communities have to information technologies, but also achieving a self-sustaining process.