[UgaBYTES] [KenTel] UCRC holds a two day workshop on Farmer Led Documentation (FLD).

[Meddie Mayanja]

This is certainly an interesting activity.

I would like to know if UCRC will engage other development organisations/extension staff/CBOs who work in agric-business to plug into their resources and knowledge. It might help to open an even wider network of partners interested in this areas and therefore farmers accessing more info. In another way, diseases and pests can be managed better because some of the CBOs have the info on management but do not reach the farmers..

Best, Meddie



________________________________
From: kentel-bounces at list.kenyatelecentres.org [mailto:kentel-bounces at list.kenyatelecentres.org] On Behalf Of Cleopa Timon Otieno
Sent: Monday, March 30, 2009 6:13 AM
To: ugabytes at lists.ugabytes.org; ugabytes at ugabytes.org; kentel at list.kenyatelecentres.org
Subject: [KenTel] UCRC holds a two day workshop on Farmer Led Documentation (FLD).

Farming is the backbone of many economies in Africa, research and development of new farming methodologies and practices have always involved the farmer during the process, however most of the time these valuable results/outcome do not reach the farmer who should be the consumer of  this product. It is with this in mind that UCRC has organized this workshop to educate farmers on use of FLD methodology to document local innovations.


FLD is a participatory process which seeks to involve the farmer in the process of documenting their work using various technologies. This process is useful in content generation for farmers. It involves farmers using various techniques such as report writing, drawing, video captions, photos, mobile phones, and audio to document farming right from tilling the land to harvesting. FLD might be a new methodology to many name wise, however I think it is a practice that has been with us for along time only that the farmer hasn't benefited directly. This is one way telecentres can help farmers be custodians of the information they wish to access in future.

This two day workshop has brought together three farmer groups to learn FLD methodology. This is one way in which telecentres play a role in working with farmers to document their work.

The objectives of this workshop include:
-    Introduce FLD methodology to farmers
-    Laying emphasis on FLD
-    Why farmers should use FLD
-    Sharing experiences and ideas

Some of the benefits of using FLD as discussed in the workshop include:
-    Shows a farmers activities as well as impact
-    Sharing experience from various farmers
-    Source of encouragement and inspiration
-    Technology transfer
-    Creating awareness
-    Generational learning (Source of information and knowledge) etc

UCRC will work these selected groups of farmers to build their capacity in use different ICT equipments such as audio recorders, still camera, digital camera, video camera and writing skills in documenting their own innovations.

Best.

--
Cleopa Timon Otieno
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