Information Management on Sustainable Production Systems - Ecuador

The Coordinadora Ecuatoriana de Agroecología (CEA) focuses on food security, the urban-rural relationship and local markets. CEA heads a national network with a diverse membership, including grassroots community organisations, NGOs, universities, producer associations and cooperation agencies, among other stakeholders involved in natural resource management. In Ecuador, there is an array of diverse experiences by producers who have solved production problems by applying agroecological principles. The potential of these experiences is promising and may influence an ample universe of producers with similar farming and socio-economic characteristics, who have problems with pests and diseases. In this context, ICTs are useful tools to enhance the dissemination of techniques and technologies that have been validated in small-farmer practice and others coming from academic circles.

The project supported small farmers' agricultural practices through systematisation and information exchange on agroecological management, by implementing three information centres in different provinces in the Sierra. During the first project phase, information centres have been implemented in four provinces: Loja, Azuay, Chimborazo, and Imbabura.

The project has completed its second phase, financed by the Netherlands Embassy in Quito. Focus was on support to the information centres and to the production of meaningful audiovisual materials on farmers’ own experiences.

In Ecuador, there is an array of diverse experiences by producers who have solved production problems by applying agroecology principles. The potential of these experiences is promising, to influence an ample universe of producers with similar farming and socio-economic characteristics, who have problems with pests and diseases. In this context, information and communication technologies are useful tools - so far unexplored in rural communities - to enhance the dissemination of techniques and technologies that have been validated in small-farmer practice and others coming from academic circles.

Read more about IICD's Ecuador Country Programme.

A DVD containing videos produced in the framework of the project has been produced. The videos show a variety of agricultural practices shot by the project personnel.

Migration to the Joomla platform has been completed. The new web site is now operational.

The four infocentres of the project are functional, though their economic sustainability remains an important issue. Three out of the four telecentres are currently connected to the Internet, but funding of this occurs through the project budget, this threatening sustainability. A start has been made with the formulation of business plans for the four centres.

The project has completed its second phase, financed by the Netherlands Embassy in Quito. Purpose of the second phase was to increase the number of end-users and beneficiaries around the four infocentres and to strengthen the role of the infocentres within the communities. Also, more own, location-specific, practices should be documented.

To reinforce sustainable rural production systems in the small-farm sector of Ecuador, to contribute to improving farmers’ standard of living and environmental quality through:

• Collecting and systematising successful techniques in the field of pest and disease management in the main production systems in the Ecuadorian Andean region and coastal area.
• Disseminating information in sustainable management of production systems through information centres.

Human resource training in communities has been strengthened, so that the holistic understanding of agroecology will improve farmer’ growing systems. Furthermore by generating agricultural proposals, this project promoted agroecological human development for small and medium farmers.

Results are:

• Major current experiences by farmers identified and systematised, emphasising agroecological management of pests and diseases.
• A database on pest and disease management for the main crop systems in these zones created.
• A CD-ROM with a multimedia presentation on the four main cropping systems produced.
• Four information centres on agroecological information set up and operational.
• A Web site set up and regularly updated.

Read more about IICD's Ecuador Country Programme.

Read more about IICD's approach towards Livelihoods.

A needs assessment in CEA's regional offices determined the main information and ICT tools required to support small and medium farmers' systems, and their perception of the different information sources they use. Farmers' main needs include pest and disease management, soil management, and access to and recovery of native seeds.

Marketing problems are a determining factor and, although this is not part of the project approach, which focuses on production technologies, it is recommended to link information from the ICT project to marketing as well. In rural zones, information centres must manage to achieve an impact, and guarantee their sustainability in three ways: responsiveness to farmers' needs, disseminating appropriate technologies; meeting needs for localisation; and consolidating institutional development for rural organisations and other institutions involved, to improve their communications systems through this experience.

The Ecuadorian Agroecology Coordinating Office (CEA) heads a national network with diverse members, including grassroots community organizations, NGOs, universities, producers associations and cooperation agencies, among other stakeholders involved in natural resource management. In Ecuador, there is an array of diverse experiences by producers who have solved production problems by applying agroecology principles. The potential of these experiences is promising, to influence an ample universe of producers with similar farming and socio-economic characteristics, who have problems with pests and diseases. In this context, ICTs will be useful tools - so far unexplored in rural communities - to enhance the dissemination of techniques and technologies that have been validated in small-farmer practice and others coming from academic circles.