Introduction
Improved availability and access to new ICTs-especially personal computers, the internet and mobile telephones—in the last two decades have provided a much wider choice in collection, storage, processing, transmission and presentation of information in multiple formats. Some of these applications such as tele-centres, web-portals, knowledge platforms call centres, mobile phones, community radio, video, digital photography, GIS, e-mail, audio and video conferencing have the potential of getting across vast amounts of information to rural population in a more timely, comprehensive, cost-effective and interactive manner.
ICTs can also enhance knowledge processes and support knowledge workers (information intermediaries/extension and advisory service providers) to have ready access to organised information. It can also help promote better communication and interaction with fellow practitioners and also enhance interaction needed for collective knowledge creation. The Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services (GFRAS) would like to engage more actively in this area of using ICTs for strengthening extension and advisory provision (ICTs for EAS) and has constituted working group to further elaborate how GFRAS would move forward.
Activities
Activities
ICT4D Conference March 2017 in Hyderabad, India
Social Media for Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services; Presentation by Saravanan Raj (pdf 4.8 MB)
A side event at the GFRAS Annual Meeting 2015 in Kyrgyzstan
Social Media in Action (pdf, 5.1 MB)
ICT4Ag conference in November 2013 in Kigali, Uganda
Putting the horse in front of the cart. A presentation about ICT design strategy, Andrea Bohn
Extension & GFRAS Saravanan Raj (pdf 1.7MB)
Information and Communication Technologies for Agriculture Maximo Torero (pdf 7MB)
ICTs for Agricultural Extension Saravanan Raj (pdf 2.2MB)
Revisiting Extension with the ChangingArchitecture of ICTs Benjamin Addom (pdf 1MB)