Making ICTs more relevant: creating spaces for farmers’ participation in ICT policies in the
Philippines
POLICY BRIEF
Participation of primary stakeholders in ICT initiatives is not very popular worldwide. Views anchored on technological
determinism, where technology is seen as a magic wand that can deal with most development concerns, have
dominated the discourse. In the Philippines, more nuanced approaches to participation of farmers in ICT projects in
agriculture, especially during the conception stage, are yet to be seen. The conscious effort to give them voice in the
process is not very obvious. This is something that needs particular attention in ICT policies, as, under the development
paradigm, the possibility of coming up with irrelevant interventions is high when people are not involved in the process.
The multifarious issues associated with ICTs will certainly be glossed over. Hence, the inability of supposedly wellintentioned ICT initiatives to address pressing concerns of the members of the community. It is in this light that this
paper responds to the call of information and communication technology for development (ICT4D) scholars to move the
focus of the discourse from being infrastructure-centric to being more sensitive to social issues attached to ICTs. While
the infrastructure phase is the key prerequisite to an e-ready society, one cannot discount the fact that social
dimensions along with other concerns are equally important.
KEY FINDINGS/RECOMMENDATIONS
FINDINGS
USERS’ PERSPECTIVES (social) matter as
much as data systems and technology
inputs. - literacy, language, age, language,
culture-based nuances have a bearing in
farmers’ willingness to try ICT-based
modalities
INTERPERSONAL AND MASS MEDIA
remain to be preferred sources of
information
POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS
SOCIAL CONTEXT
Refers to the different social factors with
particular attention to the needs and
opportunities present in the community.
MODES OF COMMUNICATION
Complementation of interpersonal, mass
and ICT-based initiatives (Face to face
+mediated (ICT-and non-ICT-based)
communication)
PARTICIPATORY APPROACH
Scoping studies
PM&E
Figure 1. Summary of key points on the policy paper.
1. For a more holistic view on ICTs, scholars should pay attention both to the environment and users’
perspectives.
The two areas of concern emphasized in the two studies conducted by PhilRice were environment (technology)
and users’ perspectives (socio-cultural factors such as access, literacy including preferred modes of
communication and channels.
2. There are innumerable social issues, not just technology-related, on ICTs in agriculture that merit attention.
To optimise ICTs, careful attention must be paid to the social issues attached to them such as computer
illiteracy, absence of decent Internet access points, and unaffordable computer rental rates.
3. Interpersonal and mass media remain to be farmers’ preferred sources of information.
Face to face (or small group communication) and use of mass media channels are the expressed preferences of
farmers in sourcing information.
4. Face to face and mediated communication (ICT- or non-ICT-based) initiatives can be complementary and form
a good synergy for an effective communication intervention in agriculture.
Finding a good mix of above strategies could result in improved delivery of agricultural information to farmers.
The concept of “technological hybrids”, where two or more media converge, can be related to this. The key is to
find the best combination that will serve the interest of the poor and the marginalised.
5. Farmers should be given voice in the process of developing ICT applications.
Giving voice to the farmers in developing ICT applications will make ICT policy-making more inclusive.
Inclusiveness puts premium on and lends critical importance to a participatory approach to ICTs for agriculture.
A more social and less functionalist dimension – that involves recognizing/acknowledging farmers’ media
preferences and options – could lead to greater participation among this often marginalized sector.
THE RESEARCH
This paper proceeds by first presenting the findings of the two research studies on ICT4D in Philippine agriculture
commissioned by the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice). The studies, both national in scope, inform the policy
directions that we will forward in this paper.
The main idea that we will expound in this paper, drawing on from the findings of two research studies, is giving voice to
the farmers and other key stakeholders in ICT policy-making in the Philippines. This is anchored on the premise that if
key stakeholders are given voice in the process more relevant ICT policies can be the end result. Giving voice to the key
stakeholders is at the heart of the participatory approach, which is our key framework in this paper.
The use of the participatory approach is by all means in response to the call for greater focus on the social side of ICTs by
ICT4D scholars. For the past decade scholars have raised the flag against the very strong infrastructure-centric discourse
on ICT. Hence, in this paper, we will highlight some of these social issues such as computer illiteracy, absence of decent
Internet access points and unaffordable computer rental rates. These social issues, along with many others, merit equal
attention if ICTs are to serve the interests of the poor and marginalised.
As we are forwarding the use of participatory approach in ICT policies, we pay particular attention to areas where
farmers’ voice could come in—deciding on content, form, preferred information channel, and level of participation—all
towards making ICTs inclusive. By doing so, we have been able to veer away from giving vague prescriptions, which is
among the major critiques in using the participatory approach. To further elucidate our points, we also bank on the
experiences of projects worldwide that have employed the participatory framework. Recognizing farmers’, and other
stakeholders’, voice and other contextual information are antecedents to careful conduct of ICT initiatives.
AUTHORS
Jaime A Manalo IV
Email: jamanalo4@email.philrice.gov.ph
Mobile: +639185679441
Anne Marie Jennifer E Eligio
Email: amj_eligio@email.philrice.gov.ph
Mobile: +639192429515