Technical-Commercial Information Centres for the Agro-Ecological Sector - Bolivia

The ecological production of agricultural products has seen significant developments over the last decade: increased production, stricter demands in terms of quality control and certification, increased expectations of consumers, and growing national and international demand. These facts create the need for a network of specialised information centres for producers of ecological products. These centres are operated by local producer organisations, receiving training and coaching in the use of computers and the Internet and in the provision of information services.

Information services offered to producers include market tendencies, certification norms and rules and information on the latest production technology. To enhance exports of ecological products buyers can find monthly updated information on volumes and qualities of key products such as cacao, coffee, nuts, castaña, tropical fruits, amaranth, tea and quinoa.

The current project phase comprises the creation of a new information platform with underlying database bringing together information on organic products and producers in Bolivia with the final goal of certification of these products with AOPEB’s own label.

In the beginning of Q4 2009, Agriterra has withdrawn its commitment to co-finance the ICT project in 2010. IICD has taken upon it to ensure funding the Agriterra part in 2010. It is hoped Agriterra will resume its donor role in 2011.

Certification of organic agricultural products is important for smallholders given the good prices they fetch on markets. The certification process is, however, complicated and long as a result of difficulties in gathering GPS and socio-economic data and the administrative processing of these. The underlying project aims to improve this situatuion.

There are 76 organisations affiliated to AOPEB, 15 of which are coffee producers and 18 of which belong to the TIC AOPEB network, representing over 25,000 small producers throughout Bolivia.

AOPEB has 10 telecentres, 9 of which are financially sustainable.

Read more about IICD's Bolivia Country Programme.

There are currently 76 associations connected with AOPEB: some 25 on organic coffee, and further: quinua, vegetables and cacao.

As a result of previous project phases, the number of operational telecentres has been increased from seven to nine. Most of the telecentres operate sustainably as Internet cafés.

Central in the new project phase is the development of a new information exchange platform for storage of agricultural production data. PDAs and netbooks are used to collect georeferencial data in the field and these are uploaded from the computers in the telecentres into the central database. Final purpose is the certification of organic agricultural produce with AOPEB’s own label.

The platform has been developed and is operational. It holds a total of 105 product categories. Training of key persons in general ICT skills, certification producers and the use of the platform within 20 producer groups of 5 pilot associations in Achocalla and Caranavi has all but been completed. Data input from 4 out of the 5 associations has been completed and some minor adaptations to the platform have been made.

AOPEB will be a partner in the new C4C sector programme on economic development in Bolivia. The aim is to extend the number of associations participating in the certification platform to all 76, which would, at the same time, provide an insight in the total ecological production in Bolivia. It is hoped that the certification process will lead to better market prices. Studies have revealed that the Bolivian public would be prepared to pay up to 10% more for ecological products.

Outcomes of the AOPEB project are:

• Capacity development of the project team in development and management of advanced information systems.
• Development of a data base-driven website with technical and commercial information on selected agro-ecological products and a market place for demand and supply of products.
• Development of 1 central and 5 satellite Internet access points in offices of member organisations of AOPEB in 5 departments in Bolivia.
• Capacity development in the use, exploitation and maintenance of the centres for communication and marketing officers and leaders of the 76 member organisations of AOPEB.
• Ten telecentres have a sustainable operation.
• A platform for certification of ecological products has been developed.

To realise the development of this network, the Asociación de Organizaciones de Productores Ecológicos de Bolivia (AOPEB) implements a network of information centres in Bolivia. AOPEB defines the following strategies:

1. Capacity development of the project team in development and management of advanced information systems.
2. Development of a data base-driven website with technical and commercial information on selected agro-ecological products and a market place for demand and supply of products.
3. Development of 1 central and 5 satellite Internet access points in offices of member organisations of AOPEB in 5 departments in Bolivia.
4. Systematisation and regular actualisation of information.
5. Capacity development in the use, exploitation and maintenance of the centres for communication and marketing officers and leaders of the 41 member organisations of AOPEB.

The 76 member organisations of AOPEB are the key target group of the project, representing over 25,000 small producers throughout Bolivia. It offers information services to a total of 100 organisations and related families. Secondly, at least 300 institutions, researchers and other interested professionals benefit from the improved information service. Finally, a large number of national and international traders of ecological products benefit from a more efficient information and marketing channel.

Analysis of monitoring and evaluation indicates that 60% of the participating farmers feel more aware about the use of ICT and empowered to negotiate better with intermediaries.

Almost 50% of the farmers perceive a direct improvement in their income. Estimations of the increase in income are around 10%, representing an increase in annual income of US$ 100.

Economic indicators show that the percentage of farmers perceiving impact were lower in 2007 than in 2006. A possible explanation for this decrease can be found in the effect of the current political, social and economic crisis that is affecting the country and that has had an enormous impact on the sector. On the other hand, political instability and environmental problems have compelled technicians to reduce their support to the producers and this has resulted in a lack of motivation, in fewer training opportunities and less communication for the provision of effective support to the producers.

Read more about IICD's Bolivia Country Programme

A user of the AOPEB project affirmed: “Thanks to this ICT project of AOPEB we were finally able to get fair prices, we learnt about standard practices concerning ecological production, APAEY gained access to the Internet and we have currently more and better perspectives”. Another user, from CEPAC stated: “Now I have a better access to information, more time to communicate with others and I get all this at a lower cost.”

Read more about IICD's approach towards Livelihoods.

Like in any other sector, users in the agricultural sector have benefited from training opportunities according to their particular needs. 73% of the users declare to be very satisfied with the quality of the training received. Technical support is particularly important for self development and, when asked about the project staff, 68% of them affirm to be very satisfied.

Projects provide for the development of a series of information services available to the users. 93% of them declare to be very satisfied with these services as the projects have enabled them to meet their objectives. Information about prices, about national and international markets and about new production techniques that have showed them how to become more productive are some of the services obtained through the Internet, through VHF/UHF radios, the local radio, the telephone, etc.

A high percentage of the users are not satisfied with the Internet service. Up to now, access has been problematic and communication limited. The Internet has not reached the communities yet, despite the efforts made by the projects. Connectivity costs are very high and impossible to sustain. And the users ask for the project technical staff to make more visits and follow up activities.

A shortcoming that needs to be corrected is the participation of women in the project. Only 30% of the users are women. This problem remains a very important challenge for the Bolivian programme.

The key objective of the project is to enhance the technical production capacity and the commercial negotiation capacity of producers of agro-ecological producers in Bolivia, producing for the national and international markets. To achieve this objective, the project assists in the mitigation of the producers' deficiencies access to efficient and effective means of communication and technical and commercial information, particularly through a certification process which should lead to higher market prices.