Case study: ICTs and agricultural adaptation to climate change - NGO in Bangladesh develops ICT-based 'plant clinic'

Submitted by Andrea_Jimenez on Mon, 20/02/2012 - 02:34

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NGO in Bangladesh developed an ICT-based community 'plant clinic' for climate resilient agricultural practices.

Centre for Development Informatics (CDI), University of Manchester, UK

With the support of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC)

Authors: A.H. Rezaul Haq, Mustafa Bakuluzzaman, Mahanambrota Dash, Rabiuzzaman and Rajsree Nandi.
Editors: Richard Heeks and Angelica Valeria Ospina

In the subdistrict of Kaligonj (part of Satkhira district in South-western Bangladesh), the NGO Shushilan developed two ICT-based plant clinics called "plant doctors" that use ICTs in order to assist farmers; providing the farmers with the information they require.

Shushilan has been using different ICTs in its plant clinic project, including mobile phones, computers and Internet, digital camera and microscope and Multimedia.

The overall aim of the project was:

To identify causes, and provide solutions to common agricultural problems including those related to climate and climate change such as new pests/diseases and rising salinity levels.
To increase the usage of innovative agricultural technologies; specifically those such as salinetolerant rice varieties that could address the rising salinity level which climate change was causing.
To improve agricultural productivity generally through more appropriate use of fertiliser, pesticide/herbicide, and modern agricultural practices including crop intensification anddiversification.
To develop a strong network of linkages between agricultural scientists, extension workers (plant doctors) and farmers.

Source: http://www.niccd.org