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on Information and Communication Technologies |
| By: | Goswami, Rupak; Ghosh Roy, Jhumpa; Ghose, Jhulan |
| Abstract: | The article describes the experimentation of Change Initiatives, an Indian NGO of sub-regional scope, with the application of ICT in agricultural information management under the EU sponsored TeleSupport Project at Nadia district of West Bengal, India. During the project period an innovative mechanism of information management was experimented to facilitate two-way interaction between expert and client system with the involvement of local community. To sustain the two-way communication system two mobile and one fixed telecentre were established in the project area. The web resource created for sustaining the project hosted a large number of good practices, inspired numerous interactions among the stakeholders and facilitated diffusion of several agro-technologies. Large number of organizations and experts also joined the network. Within the project period, a considerable number of villagers including rural women and youth could be reached periodically with relevant agricultural information. Information related to crop management, livestock management, marketing etc. were professionally provided to the villagers. In spite of the initial success of the experimentation in terms of people’s participation and magnitude of information created and exchanged, the project could not achieve sustainability in the long run. Lack of e-readiness, lack of appropriate resource persons among the stakeholders, absence of any explicit incentive system within the organizational context, constraints of human resources and fund caused failure of the project. Despite of its failure it has been successful in empowering people, especially the Muslim women of the area. The information management system tried during the project may be tried in many rural communities of third world countries with necessary modifications. |
| Keywords: | information and communication technology (ICT); agricultural information management; telecentres; TeleSupport project; India |
| JEL: | Q16 D8 |
| Date: | 2010–03–04 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:21571&r=ict |
| By: | Driouchi, Ahmed; Kadiri, Molk; Alaoui Belghiti, Moulay Abdelaziz |
| Abstract: | Abstract: The potential benefits that could be gained from information technologies in South Mediterranean economies are constrained by both DRM and institutional protection related to Intellectual Property Rights. But, pervasive piracy can appear to be a major obstacle to access these benefits. This paper through a simplified theoretical decision model attempts to suggest foundations to reveal levels of protection rates. This is followed by an empirical assessment of the likely effects of different macroeconomic variables in the context of selected South Mediterranean countries using software piracy data and the protection rates derived from the above model. This is intended to reveal the most important variables that drive software protection. The results attained show how protection should be strengthened through further investments in knowledge and through openness to foreign direct investments that lead to superior economic outcomes. |
| Keywords: | Key words: DRM; Information and communication technologies; piracy; South Mediterranean economies. |
| JEL: | O17 |
| Date: | 2010–03–24 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:21609&r=ict |
| By: | Fernando, Estrada |
| Abstract: | The aim of this paper is to interpret the relationships between information networks and the civil wars (Colombia). Over a period of paramilitary violence networks of informants were used with a strategic purpose. In fact, the paramilitaries were preparing each slaughter counting information previously learned between the inhabitants of the town. For these reasons, it is shown that information is a key phenomenon to understand civil wars. Moreover, as demonstrated in this work is the evolution of the slaughter in the civil wars as a result of rumor and information. |
| Keywords: | Civil wars; massacres; paramilitary; information; rumors; Colombia; communication. |
| JEL: | D7 D74 H7 Z0 D89 D82 D8 D85 |
| Date: | 2010–03–25 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:21644&r=ict |