Social Norms
Social norms action with informed and engaged societies
Social Norms
After nearly 28 years, The Communication Initiative (The CI) Global is entering a new chapter. Following a period of transition, the global website has been transferred to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, where it will be administered by the Social and Behaviour Change Communication Division. Wits' commitment to social change and justice makes it a trusted steward for The CI's legacy and future.
 
Co-founder Victoria Martin is pleased to see this work continue under Wits' leadership. Victoria knows that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction.
 
We honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades. Meanwhile, La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA) continues independently at lainiciativadecomunicacion.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
Time to read
1 minute
Print
a- a+
Published 23 years ago
Last updated 2 years ago
Read so far

Farmer Information Network (FarmNet) - Global

0 comments
Implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Farmer Information Network (FarmNet) is a network that brings together existing organisational and social groupings of rural people. A FarmNet is supported by intermediary organisations that use information and communication technologies (ICTs) and conventional media to facilitate the generation, collation, and exchange of knowledge and information. The goal of the programme is to facilitate agricultural development in an effort to increase food security and improve livelihoods.
Development Issues
Technology, Agriculture, Nutrition, Economic Development.
Key Points
Programme organisers note that more than 80 low-income developing countries suffer from chronic food deficits; 800 million people live in hunger. Assisting farmers in developing countries to secure the means to secure food insecurity, they claim, requires new technologies, skills, and ways to collaborate. The organised use of ICTs may be one way to help farmers share experiences, find common ground, and participate actively in rural development activities. While telecommunications still favour urban areas, the coverage in rural areas is growing.

This programme is organised by the Communication for Development Group, Extension, Education and Communication Service (SDRE), the Research and Technology Development Service (SDRR), the World Agricultural Information Centre (WAICENT) Outreach Programme - all part of the FAO.

FAO's experience with FarmNets began in Latin America in the early 1990s, where farmer electronic information networks were established in Chile and Mexico. The networks provided information on crops, inputs, prices, markets, weather conditions, and credit facilities. FAO recently completed a feasibility study to establish FarmNet with the Uganda National Farmers' Association (UNFA). The study found that the best approach would be to enhance existing communication efforts through face-to-face meetings, audio listening groups, local radio, publications, and other media with the use of a simple email-based communication system.
Sources

FarmNet site.