Harsha de Silva, Director, E-development Labs (private) Limitedand Senior Economist, LIRNEasia – Agricultural MarketDevelopment through Information and Communication Technology(ICT): A Developing Country Experience

摘要

One of the fundamental characteristics of a well functioning market is the ability totransmit useful information to decision makers at the micro-level, which willultimately culminate in the development of effective macro-level policies. A keyassumption in economics is that market information is readily available to roleplayers in business and marketing. In reality however, farmers in the developingworld, unlike their developed countries counterpart, are still faced with thechallenge of accessing credible market information. Market information is anessential component of agricultural production, distribution and marketing. Theavailability of timely and accurate market information to farmers by means of fastand effective modern information technologies has enormous potential of greatlyenhancing agricultural production, investment, financial and strategic decisions.The objective of this executive interview is to show how information andcommunication technology (ICT)–enabled agricultural market information servicecan improve productivity, bargaining power and market profitability of ruralfarmers in developing countries. Dr. Harsha de Silva, the architect andimplementer of Govi Gnana Service (an agricultural knowledge service: GGS) in SriLanka shares his views and experience. The interview was conducted at the 15thAnnual World Food and Agribusiness Forum, Symposium and Case Conference inChicago, USA.