1. ICT4RD: 7th Annual SANGONet
Conference
November 01 – 03, 2011
Wanderers Club
Johannesburg
South Africa

2.  The I-Network Uganda is an ICT4D knowledge
sharing and expertise organisation
 The I-Network has been in existence since 2002
with the support of The International Institute for
Communication Development (IICD) -
Netherlands
 More resources are shared on http://www.i-
network.or.ug , Newsletters and publications
Presented by: Richard Okuti

3.  I-Network has organised several thematic, topical
and learning seminars in the years
 The team has also worked with government at
policy level (National Planning, Regulation) & local
government level as well as various Development
Partners
 I-Network has largely encouraged the development of
other projects like the ICT Consumer Association among
others
Presented by: Richard Okuti

4. E-Administration
 Capacity building of local governments in use of
desk top computers
 Optimising resources through network use
E-Society
 Capacity building in the use of ICT for
documentation, communication and transparency
 Creating opportunities for CSO’s, LG’s and Private
sector to collaborate in service delivery
Presented by: Richard Okuti

5. RIS – Rural Information Systems in collaboration
with Uganda Commodity Exchange
 Capacity building of farmer groups in access to
and use of ICT
CME – Continuous Medical Education in
Collaboration with Uganda Catholic Medical Bureau
 Capacity building in the use of ICT for
documentation of learning materials
 Digitizing learning materials
Presented by: Richard Okuti

6. Objectives;
 To improve understanding of the commodity
value chain
 Improve understanding of the importance of
market intelligence
 Increase commitment among beneficiaries to
generate accurate production information
 Provide other cooperatives with a learning
toolbox
Presented by: Richard Okuti

7. Target;
 12 cooperatives with 8000 farmers around Uganda
as a pilot
 Local Government & community leadership
 CBO’s and NGO’s
Expectations;
 Improved access and use of market intelligence
 Informed decision making
 Increased participation in production planning &
production management, bulking and marketing
 Higher revenue and value addition
Presented by: Richard Okuti

8. The Process, experiences
and lessons
of RUMI
Presented by: Richard Okuti

9. Review of
High Level
Farmer Establishing a
Groups baseline
(HLFG’s)
Selection of
Awareness
sample
creation
farmers
Development
of Business Information
Plan collection &
Usage
Training Participatory
feedback
Presented by: Richard Okuti

10. Activity & A due diligence was done to understand the nature,
Findings skills and knowledge of the HLFG’s leaders
 The groups were smaller than anticipated
 There was a high population in some areas
Lessons The review formed a good basis for further
preparation of the I-Network team
What emerged Leaders and sample farmers had to be involved were
selected for the pilot. A third group was included
Actions & Farmers were encouraged to select an enterprise as
Recommendations a team to be able to produce large quantities
Presented by: Richard Okuti

11. Activity & Due to limited resources only three HLFG’s groups
Findings were selected for the pilot project further more with
in the groups were sample farmers
 Noted different locations faced
 Land fragmentation was a common practice
Lessons Land fragmentation created a productivity challenge
making it low and expensive
What emerged Language barriers were identified
Actions & Land hire was considered as an option in addition to
Recommendations joint enterprise selection and lead farmers for
translation
Presented by: Richard Okuti

12. Activity & Assessment of availability, validity & usage of
Findings market information
 Farmers were aware of market information
 Use was limited due to access challenges
 Information more importantly was not specific
 Sometime late information
Lessons Specific information needs were poorly addressed
What emerged Weather had become a very serious information
concern, many were ignorant about irrigation
Actions & Farmers needed to learn to process more specific
Recommendations information and increase linkages with research
organizations and service providers
Presented by: Richard Okuti

13. Activity & Awareness was created specifically in understanding
Findings how to apply information on especially in market &
intelligence aspect, the changing dynamics of
producing for the market
Lessons  Most knowledge sharing was exploitative and was
mainly shared by shrewd business people
 Farmers were more keen on handouts and not
knowledge
What emerged Practical demonstration of using market intelligence
became a key motivator for change
Actions & Attitude change & handholding was to be
Recommendations introduced
Presented by: Richard Okuti

14. Activity & The groups working with I-Network developed plans
Findings  The groups didn’t have plans
 Groups were created for marketing and sales
Lessons  Planning was not popularly used
 Most farmers depended on nature
What emerged Another training item was to be included on the
agenda
Actions & Groups were advised & coached to research, plan,
Recommendations keep records, project production & market
appropriately
Presented by: Richard Okuti

15. Activity & The training topics were jointly agreed
Findings
The training included;
 The farmers were trained to identify sources of
information and how to access it
 Repackaging & translation for members
 Accessing production data
 Business planning (Each group made a plan)
 Work plans, roles & responsibilities
Findings
 Knowledge in written format was not going to be
shared easily
 Many members had not studied business concepts
Presented by: Richard Okuti

16. Lessons  Creativity was key in sharing knowledge such as
use of illustrations, translations and scenario’s
What emerged A need to create linkages with entire value chain
actors became apparent
Actions & Leaders and farmers were guided through the
Recommendations actions agreed including information collection &
dissemination, record keeping and marketing
Presented by: Richard Okuti

17. Activity & Farmer groups moved to include information
Findings collection and use in their plans
 Interest was however low due to poor appreciation
of information at the moment
Lessons  Motivation to change was limited
 Linkages were to practically be arranged
What emerged Farmers needed more support in actualizing
linkages
Actions & A new part of the plan that was not originally
Recommendations included was activated
Presented by: Richard Okuti

18. Group 1 I-Network worked with the group to develop a
funding proposal, it was to be used to lobby for
funding in the local banks
Group 2  Motivation to change was limited
 Linkages were to practically be arranged
What emerged Farmers needed more support in actualizing
linkages
Recommendations A new part of the plan that was not originally
included was activated
Presented by: Richard Okuti

19. Activity & A workshop convened to discuss the project &
Findings documentation for other potential beneficiaries
 The approach was appreciated
 The process of change would take time
Lessons  Change is slow and painful
 The cost of access to information was quite
significant (fees, infrastructure, power etc)
What emerged A need for a bureau of continuous support
Recommendations Integrated extension services including all stake
holders may be key
Presented by: Richard Okuti

20. Process This process should be guided by skilled &
knowledgeable persons
It involves mapping the farmers value chain and
working out a matrix of connections
Learning meetings For continuity the process must be integrated in the
day to day activities of the HLFG. Learning should be
continuous
 Experience sharing
 Handling of emerging issues
 Taking actions
Presented by: Richard Okuti

21. To implement such an intervention one has to take into consideration
some underlying principles;
 Leadership & Governance
 Access to and use of market intelligence information
 Vision & focus in the group
 Knowledge sharing for decision making
 Appreciation of business principles
 Good infrastructure
 Access to technical services
 Access to finance
Presented by: Richard Okuti

22. Implementing this intervention these were key learnings;
 Land fragmentation can be overcome by joint enterprise selection
 Re-packaging and translation of information is key
 Water source alternatives like irrigation must be explored
 Processing of region/location specific information is important
 Attitude towards farming must change
 A renewed approach to technical extension services
 Coaching and continuous business guidance
 Linkages contacts, terms of association/relation and roles key
Presented by: Richard Okuti

23. Questions?
Presented by: Richard Okuti

24. Thank you
okuti@i-network.or.ug
P. 0. Box 35112
Kampala Uganda
Mobiles: +256772725252
+256792725252
Presented by: Richard Okuti