e-extension and the use of mobile phones in knowledge sharing www.e-extension.gov.ph By Ms. Antonieta J. Arceo
e-extension The electronic delivery of extension service of the network of institutions that provide a more efficient alternative to a traditional extension system for agriculture, fisheries and natural resources sectors. It maximizes the use of information and communication technology to attain a modernized agriculture and fisheries sector. It focuses on creating an electronic and interactive bridge where farmers, fishers and other stakeholders meet and transact to enhance productivity, profitability and global competitiveness.
Another e in Extension eextension can then be defined simply as the use of electronic technologies (especially Information and Communication Technologies or ICT) to enhance face-to-face (f2f) and paper-based interactions. These technologies can be as simple as teleconferences or as complex as wikis and blogs. (www.thinkeextension.com)
An aggressive shift in its extension work, envisioning A revolutionized agriculture and fishery e- extension services for self-reliant and globally-competitive communities, that can be delivered any time, any place and at any pace.
Components e-learning e-farming through the: Farmers Contact Center Integrated Voice Response for NMRice NM Rice Apps e-trading with AMAS of DA 2007. All Rights Reserved. DA Agricultural Training Institute.
elearning component Various courses are developed and specifically designed for agricultural extension workers and farmers / fishers Courseware developers come from partner agencies under the Department of Agriculture, Department of Science and Technology, Sustainable Agriculture Center of Xavier University All courses were pre-tested and assessed by experts on agricultural and social technologies and by experts on distance learning. Digital learning resources are available for supplemental learning (web-based, pdf and video tutorials in YouTube
Course e-learning Course Tree Module 1 Lesson 1 SAQ Lesson 2 SAQ Activity Lesson 3 EOM Test Module 2 Lesson 1 SAQ SAQ Lesson 1 SAQ Activity EOM Test
Crops e-learning courses Mango Production Growing Vanda Cultural Mgt Practices of Abaca Abaca Pest Mgt Citrus Growing Corn Production Growing Bamboo Growing Durian Jackfruit Production Managing Common Diseases in Banana IPM for Banana Production of High Value Crops in a Greenhouse Arabica Coffee Production Ubi Production Straw Mushroom Production 26 Courses
Livestock e-learning courses Establishing Feed Resources for Your Goats Starting a Slaughter Goat Enterprise Artificial Insemination in Pigs Mastering the ABCs of Pig Production Marine and Fisheries Seaweed Farming Social Technology Effective Extension Delivery Community Organizing Basic Agricultural Marketing Extension
e-learning courses Sustainable Development Organic Fertilizer for Sustainable Development Vermicomposting: Turning Trash to Cash Insects Away, the Alternative Way
e-learning Data 2008 2009 2010 2011 Total Enrollees 919 1,216 1,520 3,365 7,070 Graduates 424 1,179 1,012 1,930 4,545 Downloads (PDF) 185 659 1,102 10,069 registered users
e-learning enrollees and graduates by Region
e-learners Profile
From our e-learners "Thank you very much. I've already started the course (Goat 1); I find it quite informative and am very pleased because it is also quite interesting and practical. More power to you and your fellow trainers/mentors." Angel-Jose Solis, Vienna, Austria,
From our e-learners...i have very limited ideas in this field, that is why i am learning (Goat 1). P.S. Is this website/online help/online course part of the Philippine government or is this a private sector? If this is part of the government project, Congratulations! You guys are the best and have the most advance technique/information technology :)" Eric Roca, Cebu
Thank you very much! I must say you guys did a great job on the first course on Goat Raising. It was really a great help. I can't wait to take the other courses. More Power to you guys! Nilo Tronco Salamat sa bumubuo ng e Extension Program. Malaking tulong talaga ito sa akin lalo na sa mga gusting matuto sa larangan ng agrikultura. Virgilio Paler, Jr. Having read about the advantages of planting ubi, I want to try it in my small farm. I m hopeful that this course will greatly benefit me. Roger Tuguinay From our e-learners
e-learning Capability Building Content Development (two phases) for partner agencies e-learning Program Administration Internet Communication and Basic Computer Literacy for Extension Workers Seminar on Internet Communication for Executives Demystifying elearning Seminar for SUCs, LGUs, FITS Centers
Department of Agriculture s FARMER S CONTACT CENTER Ang inyong kaagapay sa usaping agrikultura...
Farmers Contact Center A support center for the clients of the Department of Agriculture to deliver farm and business advisory services through the use of ICT. Main features: services through voice (call) and short messaging system (text) modes thru a pre-defined toll-free number specified across the country, as well as online communication like chat, online fora and email
Pool of Agricultural Experts * Fertilizer, Organic Agri, Agri l Eng g, ICT, Soils & Water, Coops, etc) About 1,388 Subject Matter Specialists from the Government, Local Government Units, State Universities, among others
The Knowledgebase on various commodities and concerns in agriculture and fisheries technologies Currently being developed based on the recommended frequently asked questions (FAQs) of the pool of experts as well as the actual queries received through the Farmers Contact Center
FCC Hotlines 1 800 10 982 AGRI (1 800 10 982 2474) for Provincial Toll free calls 982 AGRI (982 2474) for calls within Metro Manila 0920 946 AGRI (0920 946 2474) for Mobile calls 391 DA (391 32) for Smart and Talk N Text 0920 946 AGRI (0920 946 2474) for Globe, TM, and Sun Cellular info@e extension.gov.ph
FCC Inbound Queries Scenario with Level 2 Escalation Agent knows answer from stock knowledge Create entry in knowledgebase ATI RTC monitoring MAO dispatches AT MAO may contact other expert case monitoring (until resolved) Agent searches from knowledge base knowledge base LEVEL 2 Escalation (no site visit) Agent calls directly the expert LEVEL 2 Escalation (requiring site visit) Agent calls MAO Expert provides answer to Agent for relaying
Topics Covered Agriculture and Fisheries Technologies Agricultural Marketing Pests and Diseases Management DA Programs and Services e-learning Concerns
From our FCC clients! Ako po ay lugod na nagpapasalamat sa inyo pong pagbibigay pansin sa aking nakalap na suliranin ng mga kawawang magsasaka sa bayan ng nampicuan, nueva ecija. hindi po ako sang ayon sa mga panglalamang na ginagawa sa may kinauukulan. Naway mabigyan ng kalutasan ang aking hinaing at maliwanagan ng isipan ang mga taong gumagawa ng hindi tama at nagsasamantala sa kapwa. MARAMI PONG SALAMAT Neil Reyes reyesneil18@yahoo.com.ph Magandang hapon po sa inyong lahat, gusto lang po naming magpasalamat sa mabilis ninyong kasagutan sa sulat namin. Ito po'y labis naming ikinatuwa, nasa gayo'y meron pa pala kaming dapat asahan sa proyektong matagal na naming hinihintay. Kami po ay muling makikipag ugnayan, sainyo sa anumang pangagrikulturang usapin. Maraming salamat po. Edgar & Rolando, Lerma, Naga City, pcmanbyte@yahoo.com
Nutrient Manager for Rice in the Philippines NMRice
In 2008, scientists compiled existing knowledge into a computer-based decision tools for use by extension workers and farmers. Provide fertilizer guidelines for specific rice fields Develop a guideline based on reply of farmer to about 15 questions MS Access based software distributed on CD
Remaining challenge How to reach more farmers faster?
Interactive Voice Response (IVR) An interactive technology that allows a computer to detect keypad inputs from a mobile phone. IVR allows farmer to access a database via a telephone keypad. IVR systems can be used to guide a operation (like fertilization of ricefield) where the decisions can be broken down into a series of simple menu choices.
NMRiceWeb vs. NMRiceMobile NMRiceWeb 1 NMRiceMobile 2 Can be used for all lowland rice fields, regardless of number of crops per year or amounts of organic fertilizer selected by the farmer. Suitable for most, but not all rice fields When there are 2 rice crops in a year With application of less than 10 bags of organic fertilizer per hectare 1 Can be accessed via www.irri.org/nmrice 2 This service is free, even if the account/load balance is zero.
Nutrient Manager for Rice NMRiceMobile (in Tagalog, Cebuano, Iluko, English) A toll-free messaging service from the Department of Agriculture In collaboration with the International Rice Research Institute
How the e-services are promoted Mobilization of pool of e-extension Coordinators from the Regional Training Centers to conduct briefings and promote the e-extension Program and the services of the FCC Dissemination of IEC and promotional materials Participation in agri-fairs and exhibits Promotion in the local radio stations especially for those who have school-on-the air program Promotion through social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter (Pinoy extension) and YouTube Maximizing search engine optimization
Our shoutbox! FB link at e-extension page Social network sites!
e-extension at FB
CHALLENGES AND LESSONS LEARNED
Challenges Different negotiations with various service providers that offers various services Stakeholders particularly farmers do not want registration process with syntax, or a machine generated answer to their queries. Budgetary Constraints Lessons Learned - Choose service providers that offer what the stakeholders need -Queries are sent as they are and are processed by the designated agents - premise-based solution, maintained by a service provider, managed by DA-ATI -Budget realigned from the Regular Funds of the Agency - Partnership with the agencies within DA and DOST and private service providers
Challenges Lack of capable staff to do content development and administration and extension workers, farmers do not know how to use computers Limited ICT Infrastructure especially in the rural areas Lessons Learned - The Program focused first on the capability building of those who will be involved and moved on to building the capabilities of the extension workers and farmers along the use of ICT thru Basic ICT Literacy Training - Tap the existing Farmers Information and Technology Services Centers nationwide which has available ICT infrastructure. - Partnership with other government agencies thru their Community ecenters
Plans Development of the Knowledgebase for agriculture and fisheries Aggressive promotion of the services of the Farmers Contact Center Advocate to the service provider to bring down or subsidize the rate for the call and SMS. Implementation of the IVR on NMRice and NMRice Apps with IRRI
Plans More content for the e-extension portal Organization of Communities of Practice for swine and organic agriculture Fund for the conduct of a result evaluation for e-learning Localization of the FCC in the Regions for information dissemination and market matching
Plans Tap the youth (4-H Clubs) to be involved in the Program The FCC to be one of the modes for linking the producers and buyers (e- Trading) Coordinate with AMAS for the mobilization of e-trading Continue capability building along ICT for extension workers
www.e-extension.gov.ph