[Ict4women] on-line discussion group for sharing audio files for agricultural information invites participants

[Sophia Huyer]

Hello everyone

The Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) is hosting an on- 
line discussion forum from October 25- about "Audio files on climate  
change and agricultural information for community radios in Africa".  
Please join and circulate this call for participants to individuals  
that you feel would want to participate.

This is a preliminary discussion to inform a larger FARA initiative on  
food security. It will look at all sides of the idea that audio files  
can be shared and used/adapted to exchange knowledge about climate  
change and agricultural information. We will consider a range of real  
and potential opportunities and constraints.

I will be co-facilitating this discussion in the forum and would like  
to invite you to participate given your interest, experience and  
networks in rural radio, ICTs, gender and agriculture and climate  
change.

Information about participation is below.

thanks and regards
Helen Hambly
University of Guelph

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Community Url:  http://dgroups.org/groups/fara-rails/Agric_podcasts
http://dgroups.org/?ftj1g7jh
Community Email: podcasts-agriculture at dgroups.org


Purpose Description: The FARA Inventory on Innovative Farmer Advisory  
Services (December 2008 : 66 pages) concluded that systems which use a  
voice-platform or audio files provide an innovative and promising  
entry point to farmer information while the other platforms (SMS and  
web-based platforms) remain essential to provide a back-end offering  
more detailed information. Low quantity and quality of content,  
including lack of local knowledge in the media to support improved  
coverage of climate change or mitigation strategies in Africa and more  
in general agricultural and rural development relates to the lack of  
collaboration within and between the media and other development  
actors. The discussion proper will be held from 25/10 onwards to allow  
interested participants to register. It will be followed by 2 face to  
face meetings (participation is self-sponsored): 1. Consortium  
creation + Write shop in Accra 2-3/11 on a Food Security Thematic  
Programme (FSTP) proposal. (Most likely the European Commission will  
postpone their deadline with 2 months (instead of the initial 06/11).  
2. Consortium creation + Write shop (continued) in Nairobi on 4-6/11  
(TBC).