@article{Robinson:253574,
      recid = {253574},
      author = {Robinson, A. and Campo, K.R. and Isaac, W.A. and Ganpat,  W.},
      title = {VIRTUAL OUTREACH: USE OF MOBILE TECHNOLOGIES FOR KNOWLEDGE  MANAGEMENT AND EXTENSION SERVICES IN RURAL COMMUNITIES},
      address = {2013},
      number = {537-2016-38583},
      pages = {13},
      year = {2013},
      abstract = {Small farmers dominate farming in the Caribbean, where  state extension and advisory services are financially  stretched. The provision of timely, accurate advice,  therefore, is less than adequate. The context of the  problem investigated spans geographical locations with  primary sites located in St. Vincent and with Trinidad and  Tobago with secondary testing sites such as Belize, Kenya,  and St. Kitts and Nevis. Agricultural field staff  participated in the testing of the Virtual Outreach System.  The Virtual Outreach System addresses the constraints and  limitations of extension workers. Using a smart phone  queries can be sent to a subject matter expert at the  University of the West Indies, with or without a photo  attached, and gets a response within 48 hours. Developed in  September 2011, a virtual extension outreach pilot project  was tested in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize and  Kenya between October 2011 and January 2012 allowing for  modifications to meet farmers' specific needs. Positive  results were obtained, showing that information and  communication technologies (ICTs) could have substantial  impact on agriculture, as it could improve institutional  information management, and communication between regional  cooperation institutions and farmers, promote trade,  financial cooperation and efficiency in key sectors such as  agriculture and education. Results obtained from the focus  group used to evaluate the initiative were contrary to  popular belief that farmers are typically stuck with the  old fashioned mind set and prone to rigid behaviour as far  as technology adoption is concerned. In fact, they were  very eager to learn new techniques. Most of the farmers  showed immense interest in getting latest information and  learning techniques which could transform their "age-old"  farming methods.},
      url = {http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/253574},
      doi = {https://doi.org/10.22004/ag.econ.253574},
}