The question for week 1 was:-
From your understanding and experiences, what is the role of ICTs in sustainable intensification of horticulture crop based systems for both the smallholder and commercial farmers.
Summary of participation
The majority of the participants concurred on the significant role of ICTs in the sustainable intensification of Horticulture crop-based systems basing on scientific and practical evidences.
Given were several roles which ICTs (tools, technologies and innovative practices) play in sustainably intensifying horticulture crop production.
Popular comments coming from the participants included the following:
- ICTs as, "enablers"' of Information exchange,
- dissemination,facilitating and easing horticultural extension services provision,
- and disease and pest control.
ICTs-allowing easy access to market data and facilitating producer-consumer linkages, enhancing and simplifying information transfer across the various actors involved in the horticulture production chain.
ICTs'' numerous ways of “producing more with less” in horticulture crop based systems, through rationalizing time spent in the field, lowering the supply of inputs to precisely match the contextual needs of the plant, increased traceability.
The following is an excerpt of the discussions, “The really encouraging thing is that technology will only get better and cheaper in future , so its time everybody started trying it out ,even if only in a very limited way to start with…’’ Dr P.S.Baker.
Participants also shared some challenges and problems associated with ICTs, many pointing out that, ICTs will not be a golden panacea to dozen of production and productivity related problems encountered by horticultural farmers worldwide. The issue of costs, accessibility, and infrastructure especially among the most vulnerable and marginalised groups in the developing world stills needs a lot of attention from policy makers and requires localized collective actions.
The week ended with some of the participants already giving success stories and examples of innovative practices and technologies already in use for the sustainable intensification of Horticulture crop based systems.