ICT IS CLOSER TO US THAN WE THINK

“Sometimes when I consider what tremendous consequences come from little things – I am tempted to think – there are no little things”. These are the words of Bruce Balton whose meaning is so real to us than we could utter them.

    When ICT is mentioned, more than often, our minds float on complexities of computers and internet. A virtual image of a city characterized by interconnections of devices meant to provide communication engulfs our mental vision. In such a partly true scenario, the ICT level at our disposal is ignored and its use deteriorate –

  Long journey starts with a single step meaning that the complexity of ICT does start from a simple phone call and moves to detailed use of websites and other internet application.

           Not long ago, I met this local farmer who wanted 11labourers to prepare his farm for planting. He wrote a page message inviting potential laborers (due to competition amongst telecommunication, cost of sending an sms has gone down therefore affordable). Then on the option menu he selected “send to many”. This didn’t come at a surprise for I’ve always seen this option; it’s only that I never used it.

            This is a representation of the situation at hand. Some, though simple ways of conveying and getting information are available but we underutilize them. We have heard of and read of exchange platforms but we tend to stick to what we are used to.

In Kenya for example applications such as Agrimanagr exists for purposes of agro-markets, but probably due to coverage, few people know about it. M-farm is another app whose functionalities are yet to get into the mobile phone of youths in the rural areas.

This is a case of having no information about their existence. People lack information about where to get and send information.

On parallel, we should strive to find out what we have, even as we utilize the global

network. This is because the local apps tend not be affordable and accessible to those in rural areas. On getting information about the coverage of such apps and networks, we    should use and invite others to use them

Gandhi advises that we be the change we want to see in the world

                                                                    GITAU