Contribution received through the e-Agriculture platform
Q1
The entry points can be summarized asking the A's questions, are digital technologies in rural areas :
- Available, in terms of infrastructure, connectivity and quality of the service but also availablity of content in the language users can understand, replying to their needs
- Accessible - do people have access to the equipment, devices, maintenance.
- Affordable - is the price to pay for smallholder farmers, women, youth to have access affordable.
- Appropriate - adapted: are the devices appropriate in terms of resistance rural conditions exposed to climate changes such a very hot and very cold temperatres, dust, high level of humidity, shocks, can it be read easily ...
- Allowed - are there rules, social barriers that would prevent rural users to use the digital technologies.
- Ability: are users in rural areas prepared to use digital technologies, are there programme to make them trust the technologies, understand the benefits and developing their capacities to use them?
FAO has also highlighted in 7 success factors that should be taken into consideration to reduce the triple divide (digital, rural and gender):
Provide adapted and reliable content from trusted sources.
Develop capacities for three dimensions: the individual’s capacity, organizational capacity, and the enabling environment.
Mainstream gender and diversity.
Increase access and participation.
Engage in partnerships, especially public-private.
Identify the right mix of technologies.
Ensure economic, social, and environmental sustainability.
Sophie Treinen