Horticultural Hubs
The main objective of the Horticulture Community of Practice (CoP Horti)
is to link professionals in West Africa horticulture supply chains,
based on a collaborative web platform allowing users to keep up to date
on and exchange and coordinate activities targeting the strengthening
of horticulture products value chains.
Networking the development players of the world's widely distributed horticultural community
A key component of the Global Horticulture Initiative will be to establish interactive hubs for gathering and organizing information that will help research and development organizations and farmers to seize new opportunities and solve problems constraining horticulture systems. Since many local partners and stakeholders in the poorest developing countries do not have internet access today, media for information delivery will be diverse and appropriate for local contexts.
This activity includes:
- Set-up, maintenance and animation of a virtual portal of horticultural research for development
- Establishment of partnerships and agreements with data base owners and information providers (FAO, WHO, ISHS, CABI …) for free access to scientific and technical information for South partners
- Stimulating networks and encouraging new ones
- Maintaining networking links during gaps between funded projects (bridge funding)
An expert in the technologies of Information and Communication with experience in setting-up and managing electronic portals has joined the Executive Secretary, to establish strong links with CTA, FAO, ISHS ASHS, e-managers etc.
FARA has Published an Inventry of Innovative Farmer Advisory Services using ICTs
Published on 11th Jan 2009
The Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) has announced the publication of an Inventory of Innovative Farmer Advisory Services using ICTs. One of the co-authors. Francois Stepman, states that " entries include projects using ICT solutions or implementing ICT-based activities, institutions/groups providing services using ICTs as well as ICT solutions software providers, both at the national and regional level. While many of the entries are projects with a definitive beginning and end date providing one or two services, others are national or regional information systems providing many agricultural services using ICTs. The compilation of this inventory involved participation from many individuals/organizations. FARA would like to acknowledge the input from the RAILS e-discussion groups [Regional Agricultural Information and Learning Systems] and the Knowledge Management for Development [KM4Dev] e-discussion group who alerted us to projects that could be used in the inventory."