Project information

StatusFinalist
CategoryEconomic Development
CountryCameroon
Operational areasRural
Target groupsYouth, Women, Men, Seniors
Fixed connectionDialup, DSL, IDSN, Cable
Wireless connectionSatellite, GSM
Access pointsBusiness, Home, Telecenter, Cafe, Payphone
InteractLandline Phone, Desktop Computer, Cellphone, Laptop, PDA
Software License TypesOpen Source

Project location

Random images Challenge 2008

VAVAN ICT Agricultural Sustainable Project

  • Brief description
  • We are using Mobile phones and other ICT equipments to foster agricultural development, by easing communication through SMS to farmers/community. With mobile phones, SMS is sent to farmers to supply their produce to consumers without bothering again to go to distant markets as farmers can supplies at homes. This has eased transportation, accidents and theft as farmers can text messages as he suspects a thief on site. Also we are creating a website that will be advertising all the products produced by our local farmers for it ranges from vegetables, cocoyam, yams, cassava, plantains, bananas and animals like chickens, pigs, goats and cows.
  • Vision, Objectives and Goals

  • Vision, Objectives and Goals;

    Vision is; The use of ICT for rural agricultural development.

    Goals; Encourage all members/local farmers to;

    Buy and use cell phones.
    Become computer/internet literate.

    Objectives to;

    Assist members/local farmers to buy low cost cell phones.
    Upon email addresses to all members/ local farmers.
    Train all farmers on how to manipulate cell phones.
    Educate/train farmers on computer literacy/internet and importance/usefulness of ICT.

    Presently of the 65 members (45 girls/women & 20 boys/men) 30 now have cell phones and are sharing with members/farmers, living close by them. 25 have email addresses and visit it once a week. The association has provided 05 sustainable call booths run and managed by members.

  • How does ICT contribute to the organisational objectives
  • This project was introduced in September 2006; so far it’s yielding wonderful results as many farmers and youths (have cell phones with 05 association’s cheap phone booths) are now easily obtaining their goods / services at their door steps with a simple SMS to any producer. It has reduced transportation costs, perish ability, accidents, theft and frustration amongst our farmers, as SMS sometimes are free without any charges.
  • Transferability
  • A small group of individuals can start it with good fate then attract donors or investors or take a loan to foster their ideas but they will need an in between that will link them to a cooperative, and the government for protection and assistance since they will operate as a common initiative group (CIG). But for a start all they need are cell phones email / net may come latter.

    They also need a micro-finance group to support them, as explained by the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus how social enterprises are critical in ending poverty. Reference; One World A Million Stories Development; Issue 38 2007 page 30; Web;  HYPERLINK "http://www.developments.org.uk" www.developments.org.uk.

  • Project summary
  • The project looked upon and used ICT as the fastest / best means of enhancing sustainable development amongst farmers in our community with emphases on the necessity of having cell phones and having email addresses/going to the internet. So it tries to educate the farmers on the importance of ICT equipments and how to use them.

    Its goals are to introduce the use of ICT amongst farmers in and around our community/villages for information collection/dissemination to promote production/marketing so as to foster sustainable development.

    This project was introduced in 12/ 03 / 2006; so far it’s yielding wonderful results as many farmers and youths (have cell phones with 05 association’s cheap phone booths) are now easily obtaining their goods / services at their door steps with a simple SMS to any producer. It has reduced transportation costs; perish ability, accidents, theft and frustration amongst our farmers, as SMS sometimes are free without any charges.

    Our use of the radio to advertise our produce is also very innovative and thanks to ZACORIP because, many farmers still are very backwards in advertisements and the use of ICT.