Bangladesh as model

1. Bangladesh as model • Re-cap: • BRAC – IRRI collaboration: piloting NM in BD with government and NGOs • Goal: Field test NM; BRAC evaluates product, potential for integration with other existing tools, tailor for BD market (look-feel, content delivery…) • Demos in Ghazipur: talked with DAE, demonstrated Android app to DAE and farmer group • Extension, farmers wanted printout • No field test yet: Need to find delivery model that works by piloting, getting sense of what works best for farmers and where (extension-mediated? Farmer-direct? Other/ combination?)

2. General questions: Bangladesh • Flexibility in architecture? • Architecture tested—potential for some changes in interface, perhaps • Focus on roll-out too soon? Still need clear picture of what real needs are and how best to deliver them • More delivery platforms apart from SMS, voice, print? • Need to ensure that BRAC and DAE work together • BRAC – IRRI collaboration: piloting NM in BD with government and NGOs • Work via MoA service centers operated by local union council (approx. 4000 centers)

3. Technical issues • Database for BD based on omission plot trials • Limited number of locations; extrapolation via models but not validated for more than a few locations • Data not available for entire country yet; BRRI working to validate model • Need validated data and database in place BEFORE wide roll-out; pilots should ONLY be in areas where data exists

4. Pilot testing: Bangladesh • IRRI’s approach: focus on web, smart phone, Android • Farmers: web and smart phone will not work in BD • IVR more likely to work • Constraints: • need to know audience and their needs • need for localization of roll-out • transaction costs of reaching farmers prohibitive • Recommendation: focus on extension in BD first

5. Pilot testing: Bangladesh • Focus on extension (govt, NGO++): web - print, SMS, IVR, smart phone • Pilot timeline: 2 seasons • Approach: • build extension agent capacity through training • user feedback and further refinement of product; monitoring and evaluation • Future roll-out: • Partnerships: (I)NGOs (e.g. IPNI); governmental organizations (BRRI, BARI etc); strong private sector organizations (e.g. Grameenphone, Telcos etc)

6. Pilot testing: India • Constraints: highly variable capacity, infrastructure; audience/s and needs not clear; approach needs to be highly localized • Focus: • web - print, SMS, IVR, smart phone; farmer SMS may work depending on location • Tamil Nadu, W. Bengal, Bihar (validated data more likely) • SAUs (e.g. TNAU); state agricultural departments (e.g. W. Bengal); NGOs; agro-vets • Future roll-out issues: • Incentives? • Need to identify strong partners by state (governmental, KVKs etc)

7. Pilot testing: Nepal • Omission plot data exists for very few locations (Rupandehi –Nepal…) • Constraints beyond terai: data; literacy; electrification; cell reception; farmer ag info needs and abilities • Focus on formal and informal extension; project synergies and partners: • Web - print, IVR • Strong capacity building efforts required

8. Summary: NM roll-out South Asia • Constraints: • High variability (demographics, literacy, infrastructure) • Audience and needs not as clear as necessary • Data, model validation required; pilot first; only where model validated (e.g., Tamil Nadu, Bihar, W. Bengal; Rupandehi?) • Need for monitoring and evaluation; further refinement • Approach • Need for better understanding of needs/limiting factors, audiences, capabilities • Localization of pilot and roll-out approach • Transaction costs of reaching farmers prohibitive in most areas; focus on extension • Primary efforts: web-print; IVR • Strong capacity-building efforts required; partnerships impt.