Youth and ICTs, supporing agriculture through information provision

There is considerable scope for encouraging youth participation in ICTs as a way of supporting business ventures in relation to agriculture. This might involve youth or youth groups in the provision of technical information for improved agriculture or information regarding markets. SPC projects such as the Development of Sustainable Agriculture in the Pacific (DSAP) project have undertaken some pilot projects in relation to youths and ICTs and information provision.

Initiative NSL 7 of the Pacific Youth Strategy 2010 calls for the promotion of youth participation in ICT businesses.

If youth can be provided with sufficient support, and have access to credit, low-cost appropriate technology can be the basis of successful enterprises. Globally, there are a growing number of examples of low-cost technology such as mobile phones, fax machines and computers linked to the internet being used by rural youth to establish small kiosks or information centres, with low start-up costs, providing communication services to their communities.

What are the similar examples for the Pacific Islands. If you are aware of initiatives involving youth using ICTs to supply appropriate information to their communities or farmers please do share with us. We need to get examples of success stories that can be replicated and scaled-up in other countries.