This article aims to gain a greater understanding of relevant and successful methods of stimulating an ICT(information and communication technologies) culture and skills development in rural areas. The article details good practice activities, utilizing criteria derived from a review of the rural dimensions of ICT learning from a range of relevant initiatives and programs. These good practice activities cover: community resource centers providing opportunities for "tasting" ICTs; video games and Internet Cafes as tools removing "entry barriers"; emphasis on "user management" as a means of creating ownership; service delivery beyond fixed locations; use of ICT capacities in the delivery of general services; and selected use of financial support.
8 pages., Via online journal, This paper examines the effect of farmers' access to communication technologies (CTs) on farmers' agricultural output at the aggregate level in the People's Republic of China (P.R. China) based on panel data. The paper uses a dynamic Cobb–Douglas aggregate production function and the generalized method of moments (GMM) as estimation techniques to estimate the parameters of interests. The research findings are: the estimated effects (measured by elasticity) of teledensity on the provincial level agricultural output have been positive and statistically significant both in the short and long runs. In the long-run, the size of the effect is substantial: from 0.94 to 1.06. This implies that the agriculture sector of the P. R. China has some potentials to derive benefit from the use of CTs like telephone. Hence, the Chinese government should consider policy support to expand communication infrastructure for the farmers
Hornik, Robert (author / Annenberg School of Communications, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA)
Format:
Book chapter
Publication Date:
1989
Published:
International
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: C19722
Notes:
Pages 113-137 in Charles T. Salmon (ed.), Information campaigns: balancing social values and social change. Sage Publications, Newbury Park, California USA. 306 pages. (Sage Annual Reviews of Communication Research, Vol. 18).
Esfahani, Latifeh Pour Mohammad Badher (author), Asadiyeh, Zahra Shojaei (author), and Faculty of Engineering, University of Shahrekord, Shahrekord, Iran
School of Agriculture, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran
Format:
conference papers
Publication Date:
2009
Published:
International: IEEE - Inst. Electrical Electronics Engineers Inc.
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 163 Document Number: D08177
Notes:
Article number 5454875, pp. 3528-3531, 1st International Conference on Information Science and Engineering, ICISE2009; Nanjing; China; 26 December 2009 through 28 December 2009; Category numberE3887; Code 80401
9 pages., via online journal., Encouraging the uptake of sustainable soil management practices often requires on‐farm experiential learning and adaptation over a sustained period, rather than the traditional knowledge transfer processes of identifying a problem and implementing a solution. Farmer‐to‐farmer learning networks are emerging with farmers experimenting and sharing knowledge about these practices amongst themselves. One potential communication channel for such interaction and knowledge sharing is social media and Twitter in particular. A content analysis of a Twitter account for an EU research project, SoilCare, and in‐depth qualitative interviews with five farmers using Twitter, was used to illustrate the extent and type of farmer‐to‐farmer knowledge sharing in relation to sustainable soil management practices. Evidence of farmer learning and knowledge sharing on Twitter with respect to these practices was identified. Twitter can capture the immediacy of the field operations and visual impacts in the field. Furthermore, the brief messages channelled through Twitter appeal to time‐constrained farmers. The ability for interaction around particular hashtags in Twitter is developing virtual networks of practice in relation to sustainable soil management. Within these networks, farmer champions are emerging that are respected by other farmers. Twitter works best for those actively seeking information, rather than passive recipients of new knowledge. Therefore, its use with other forms of face‐to‐face interaction as part of a blended learning approach is recommended. Twitter also offers a potential space for other actors, such as researchers and advisers, to interact and share knowledge with farmers.
