In developing countries social networks have become increasingly popular and are used mainly for entertainment. But these forms of social networking can lead to further collaboration going beyond leisure. According to a study, surfing the internet, playing games and hanging out on social networks are important for teen development. Nevertheless there is an ongoing debate about the educational value of such online networks. As shown by a diagram published by the New York Times. It is not only the younger generation, which creates new spaces online. In the case of Facebook with its 200 million members the trend is towards an increasingly adult membership.
Rural areas in developing countries are confronted by many challenges when it comes to information access and participation in knowledge networks. Since its beginnings, the potential of knowledge sharing throughout the Internet has had high hopes, but it has not fulfilled its promises yet.
Throughout the last years organisations and projects have started experimenting with the “read and write web” and achieved new approaches to use information and communication technologies for development (ICT4D). Different to traditional ICT projects, this approach focuses on the users, it is their engagement and creativity that makes the networking and learning effort vibrant.
Two major questions persist: Where and under which conditions can these ICTs be best used for highest impact? And, how can ICTs really be used for a more effectively knowledge sharing and learning?
A group of dairy farmers in rural Uganda now use mobile phones to deal directly with buyers, to negotiate prices and organize delivery. Improved access to market information has reformed the way the farmers do business and has led to increased profits. By using technology to make the supply process more efficient the farmers no longer waste as much milk as they used to and are branching out to produce more dairy products and enter new markets.
ICTARD’s activities in Kayunga have impacted on the farmers who are now increasingly becoming aware of the potential of ICT. The farmers themselves have maximized the use of the village phones to access market information from any part of Uganda. They use locally developed SMS services to send and automatically receive updates on market prices. Because of this, farmers no longer have to wait for buyers and middlemen who con them. They have direct contact with the buyers and no more middlemen involved. Some farmers are now able to sell to the big supermarket chains in Kampala, including Uganda’s Metro and Uchumi.
