Mobile-enabled service delivery in livestock value chains: a new competence area for ILRI?

Mobile-enabled Service Delivery in Livestock Value

ChainsA new competence area for ILRI?

ILRI APM, Addis Abeba 15th-17th April 2010

By: Pier Paolo Ficarelli – Knowldge Management & Information Systems - Asia

Thesis

Premises/Assumptions:

Integrated service provision critical to increase benefits from

livestock keeping and system sustainability

Information/service gap in rural areas can be bridged through

community-based workers.

Thesis:

Enabled - mobile phone is the digital pathway capable of reaching

large number of households and integrating multiple services at a

low cost, while increasing farmers convenience and creating a self-

employment opportunity for youth in rural areas.

What have mobile phones changed in our lives?

Ubiquitous reachability

Social networking

Quick information access

Time and travel savings

The Digital Divide…..

“Mobile phones will drive the final nail into the coffin of the $ 100 laptop and spell the demise of telecentre movement”

(IAALD, 2009)

"The spread of mobile cellular services and technologies has made great strides towards connecting the previously unconnected."

UN, 2009

in India

3.5 billions people world-wide

50 millions in rural Bangladesh

300 millions in rural India

Fastest growth in AfricaUN, IAALD 2009

…….and the Rural Communication Gap

Agricultural Extension in the 21st Century?

Yes!

May be..

info dissemination to farmers

access to information by farmers

farmer-services link

farmer organisation development

technology development

farmer field schools

No!

Multi-media (video photo audio)

e-learning & mobile library

Individual farm data management

Mobile-enabled Agro-Services: Why?

Only 40% of farmer households access information about agricultural

techniques and inputs (India NSS, 2005).

Sources of Agricultural Information for Households

Other Progressive Farmers 16.7%

Input Dealers 13.1%

Radio 13.0%

Television 9.3%

Newspaper 7.0%

Extension Worker 5.7%

Source: NSS, June, 2005 GoI

Mobile-enabled Agro-Services: How?

• See these videos: – www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFvGvr3vzIw– http://lifelines-india.net/lifeline/resources

Lots of Experimentation going on Globally……

Private Sector•ITC E-choupal ( India)•IFFCO-Airtel (India)•TCS-TATA (India)

Public Sector•Global Plant Clinics (Asia Africa S. America)•Virtual Learning Centres (e.g. NAARM- India)•VASAT/Agropedia (ICRISAT)

NGOs/Foundations• Info-lady - Bangladesh•Village Knowledge Centers (MSSFRF- India)•CTA (Africa)

Mobile-enabled Agro-Services: System Components

• CGIAR• ILRI• Mega-

programme

Information Organisation

• SAUs• NARS

Information Platform

• Connected producers

• Self-help groups

User Community

Mobile-enabled Agro-Services : Key Challenges

Relevance Trust

Mobile-enabled Agro-Services: Lessons Learnt

Embedded in market oriented initiatives

Involving the private

sector

Economically viable

Nested in an organisation at local level

Mobile-based Agro-Services: Business Model

Intermediary Agency Agro-business /Social Enterprise

Districts

Implementing Organisation (NGO/Foundations)

ILRI project/CGIAR Mega Programme

Village – based workers for integrated service delivery

Public/Private Service Providers/Marketing

Agents

Connected Producers

Self-help groups

Mobile Service ProvidersPPP/Partnership

Service contract

Info-Service Package

Linkages &

Services

Seed Funding

Subscriptions to service

package

Facilita-tion

Mobile-enabled Livestock Info- Service Package

Free Services Paid Services

Daily voice info-messages/day Mobile contract (SIM Card)

Q&A services Basic animal health (treatments and drugs)

Linkages with service providers Sampling/I.A.

Vaccinations campaigns Diagnostic visits

Bulk orders/produce aggregation Printed info material

………….. ……………

Self-employment and off-farm income opportunities in rural area!

Mobile-enabled Livestock Services:Why should ILRI engage?

Smarter farming = knowledge intensive+speed+customised

Digitally-packaged livestock information scanty

Integrated service delivery critical in livestock value chains

New dissemination path of project results at farmer level

Further support service offered by ILRI in the new CGIAR

Mobile-enabled Livestock Services: Partners

APAARI (Asia)

CTA (Africa)

ILRI Livestock Value Chain Projects

CABI Int.

Mobile phone service providersAgricultural input suppliers

Partner National NGOs

Private IT service providers

Local facilitators/coordinators

ITC rural kiosk Sanchalak

Gopal/Vet.scouts initiatives

Livestock associations

Dairy co-op

Self -help groups

Mobile-enabled Livestock-Services: Budget

$ 250.000 over 3 years for 100 village info-service providers

linking 500-1000 farmers each!

Thank You for your Attention!