Regional Prospects and Initiatives for Bridging the Rural Digital Divide*
Dr. Alexander G. Flor and Malcolm Hazelman
Abstract
The FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific is considering a technical cooperation project (TCP) entitled Institutional Strengthening of Agricultural Extension ICT Systems in Selected Countries. A rapid assessment of ICT utilization for agricultural extension was done in Thailand, Indonesia and Sri Lanka, with the end view of regional collaboration to bridge the digital divide.
The assessment found that in all three countries, general policies on the use of ICT for the delivery of basic services exist. ICT infrastructure is available up to the provincial level. Below this level access becomes a problem since Internet penetration, not to mention telephone density, is low. It is proposed that alternative modalities for last mile linkages, interfaces with terrestrial and cable television, rural radio, cellular telephony and organizational or individual intermediaries be explored.
Furthermore, agricultural extension agencies should be linked to other facilities that would provide first mile linkages such as APAN and A3I.
Full paper available in PDF format
*Paper presented at the 2004 AFITA/WCAA Joint Congress on Information Technology in Agriculture.