IICD supported project: Commercial Information and Advisory System for Agriculture Producers

Countries: Bolivia [BO]
Sectors: agriculture livelihood ebusiness

Summary

This project allows farmers to gain access to information and knowledge on new markets for their produce. The project aims at increasing decision-making powers of producers. Project owner Ceprobol (semi-state) provides advice on export markets. The organisation is highly professional and has an important international network to promote exports. Furthermore, earlier projects at Ceprobol invested in information systems (large scale database on export markets, website and an advanced e-commerce platform). Yet, the organisation has hitherto focused exclusively on provision of services too larger exporters, therefore not accessible to small farmers. Earlier projects and funding agencies do not invest in training of project staff and in facilities and training of staff in the regions. As a result, the information is not reaching beneficiaries outside La Paz. Through this project, the organisation expresses interest in expanding services to small producers. As it is not possible to reach individual end users, it will be worked via -intermediaries- producer organisations and NGOs, who are eligible for fee advisory services on potential export markets. A needs assessment is conducted to find the actual needs of the small producer groups. The advisory services of Ceprobol are strengthened by means of enhancing ICT facilities and training of regional staff. Focus is on information and knowledge of conditions for exporting and potential export outlets of selected products.

Update

Updated: 2006-09-01

The Bolivian Export Promotion Centre, an executive institute under the
Ministry of Foreign Trade, started developing an initiative to enhance
its market information services in the nine regional promotion offices
since April 2003. Hitherto CEPROBOL focused its information services
exclusively on large exporters and agro-processing industries. Due to
the involvement in the Roundtable workshop on agriculture, CEPROBOL is
planning to open services to NGO and grass-root organisations serving
small-producers. This way, the extensive export network of the
organisation will become accessible to smaller producers. The services
will focus on advice on existing and potential export markets for
Bolivian products. The project has recruited and initiated training of
head quarters project staff in the second half of 2003. Thanks to
capacity development through the APCOB Multimedia project, part of the
project team has received ICT training and can benefit from advanced
ICT knowledge in the institution. The appointment of the project
manager as director general of the institution generates strong
institutional support for the project.

Objectives

• Development of advisory services: 1) proactive information services on export markets distributed via the existing Ceprobol database and website and monthly info bulletins and 2) reactive information services on request of users on export market access conditions and potential export outlets.
• Target groups include exporters, companies and small farmers reached through intermediary organisations (NGOs, grass-root organisations). The targets include 220 exporters, 650 potential exporters, 360 companies and 10,837 producer families.

Planned outputs

• Installation equipment in regional offices
• Needs assessment in each province
• Training project team
• Promotion services in regional service centres
• Delivery of proactive info services (bulletins)
• Delivery of reactive advisory services (direct advice on request)
• Promotion of e-commerce services

Development Impacts

The project provides in an important information and knowledge gap for small farmers in Bolivia, who do not have access to knowledge on potential export markets. It also provides in bridging the gap between government services provided to larger scale companies and exporters on one side and small producers at the other side. Main risk is whether the agency is capable of translating services hitherto provided to exporters into valuable services for small producers. Key will be the role of intermediary organisations who will have to use the projects’ services to assist small farmers.

Project Owner : Centro de Promocion Bolivia (CEPROBOL)

Contact Organisation : IICD