Agroecological youth using ICTs to market organic products

Session 02: Capacity Development, Youth, and ICTs in Agriculture

Jahvé Mescco Condori, ANPE PERÚ

Proposal: ICTs for economic development

Agroecological youth using ICTs to market organic products

• ANPE PERU, supported by IICD and ICCO (through Connect4Change consortium), proposed to implement ICTs supported by a network of young agroecological farmers.

• Objective: Contribute to better economic opportunities for families who sell organic products in the Eco Fairs “Frutos de la Tierra” of Cusco, Ancash and Cajamarca.

510 familiesbenefited

Achievements

Agroecological youth using ICTs to market organic products

• Building ICTs skills of 70 agroecological young farmers from Cusco, Cajamarca and Ancash, who lead the agroecological network. ICTs: social networks (facebook, youtube, soundcloud), podcast, preparing brochures, making videos, and office.)

• Youth leadership skills helped them to occupy positions in their local associations and Eco fairs committees, and to get new business opportunities (Mistura).

• Use of mass media (tv, radio) and social media (facebook, youtube, soundcloud) to promote organic products.

• Increased sales in Eco fairs “Frutos de la Tierra” in the regions.

• 3 regional organizations and 9 provincial producer organizations have integrated ICTs. (11 region totally)

• Use of information system (SIANPE) for collective sales and organizational strengthening.

Recommendations

Agroecological youth using ICTs to market organic products

• To consolidate the network of agroecological youth & ICTs, its important promote youth entrepreneurship (job opportunities), and promoting more youth leadership in regional and local organizations.

• Producers consider important and begin to appropriate ICTs when the information they provide is useful to them and helps them concretely, in achieving trade agreements, increase sales of organic products, better prices for their products. This is essential for farmers’ sustained use f ICTs and their willingness to contribute financially to information and communication systems.

• Information systems as SIANPE and ICTs should not be seen only as a project, it is better to be appropriated as a tool that crosses the entire organization and helps strengthen all processes.