Developing ICT tools for improving the access to SRI information: Op= en and Distance Learning modules

Developing ICT tools for impro= ving the access to SRI information: Open and Distance Learning modules

= Shaik.N.Meera= , P.Muthuraman, Mangal Sain and R.M.Kumar

Directorate of Rice Research, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad 500 030, AP

System of Rice Intensification (SRI) is a package of intensive management practices developed for irrigated rice cultivation, evolved through participatory on-= farm experimentation in 1980s and 90s in Madagascar. Though SRI has spread to some part= s of the country, no systematic efforts have been made to create digital content about SRI. The present paper describes a conceptual framework on Open and Distance Learning (ODL) to undertake developing appropriate content with sustainable cost, engage stakeholders in participatory processes and use so= und pedagogical and administrative models for fast spread of SRI across the country.

In recent years, there have been numerous examples of institutions in developi= ng countries using ODL strategies to address the challenges of agricultural development and rural poverty reduction. A mo= re recent FAO development, as part of its World Agriculture Information Centre (WAICENT) initiatives, has been the Virtual Extension, Research and Communication network or VERCON, designed as an open network to improve communication between research and extension and farmers. In some countries, prototype software is being developed which can be readily adapted locally = to improve the flow of information between extension and research departments.= Realizing the urgent need to harness the ICTs in large scale popularization and adoption of SRI, imparting online and off= line training gains significance. It can be achieved by developing an ODL courseware on step by step S= RI cultivation practices on location specific and participatory way.

The present paper envisages ways and means of developing ODL courseware on SRI cultivation. Main focus is on creating demand driven content on SRI that can be easily access= ed, understood and applied by the stakeholders in the rice regions. This will enable the farmers and local organizations to make use of content through a process of adaptation. This is necessary to make it relevant and effective = in the local conditions.

These ODL modules are meant to support building SRI literacy among farmers and extension workers. Granule-of-learning approach will be adapted by splitting each module into granules, most of which will have a definite learning outcome. The learning resources will be presented in whole and as granules in PPT^(=
R) or Flash^(R)formats in English language and later on converted i= nto local languages. It is expect= ed that such an innovative extension approach will enhance the adoption of SRI= in the country.

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