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of participants
 Mark
Farahani
Took part in
Workshop in July 05 in Switzerland
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A) My working situation:
I am running a farmer's news services
business oriented shop titled as Kilosa Rural Services and Electronic
Communication (KIRSEC) whereby different services are sold/offered at
margin price that are: Internet cafe, farmer's news services
(uploading, printing and making of brochures), community based digital
photoghraphic events, publications, stationaries, secretarial services,
computer training, advisory services on establishing
micro-economic activities, promotion and establishing kilosa rural
website as a marketing tool (http://www.kilosaruralservices.com). I am
also working with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS)
as an extension officer at District level linking farmers with National
and international level since 1981. In this discussion and the SDRA
workshop I will participate as a rural based development private sector.
B) My challenge for the
workshop
1. AWERENESS/TRAINING;
The community doesnt know what is internet and what to do with internet
hence little returns to run or maintain the service/business.
2. MINDSET:
The community believes that such service is for educated/government and
only offered freely in their officess.
3. NEED OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT:
KIRSEC is looking for different options how exactly can kilosa farmers
news services-KFNS be adapted as a business and direct link to support
establishment of rural micro-economical activities for the better
livelihood, and design and organize trainings accordingly.
4. LINE OF DONOR'S SUPPORT TO THE THIRD WORLD IS TOO
INSTITUTIONAL
Donor to Government. There is a need of Government and
Donors/Private/Partnership-GDPP. This will directly explore local
community and indegenous ventures like KIRSEC and farmer groups to
secure loans, grants and any training support.
5. WHAT NEXT AFTER SDRA WORKSHOP: Practicability of the discussed
fruitful issues should not end on the table.
C) My contribution:
The case I can present is this: Our
business Kilosa Rural Services & Electronic Communication KIRSEC is
a joint venture of individuals from third world Kilosa in Tanzania and
developed Countries Switzerland, Canada, and England. The business has
emerged from Linked Local Learning approach. The business is very new
as people have in mind that such services are only offered by
Government/Donors/Institutions. KIRSEC has started November 2004 and is
now partly operating the following businesses that are: Internet cafe,
photocopying, computer training, digital photoghraphic, activities and
established websites. Other business plans/micro-economic activities
are on table that are cultural/eco tourism, grainstorage,
microirrigation, seed production and food processing. Under the
micro-economic activities KIRSEC is focusing on training/sensitization
and selling of the agreed and affordable appropriate technology grain
storage structures. So far despite of challenges faced KIRSEC has
achieved the following; 20 Kilosa rural people received basic computer
and internet training (12F and 8M), 650 Kilosa people had access on to
internet through our cafe-(the only one in Kilosa), Government staffs
and individuals had a chance to update their CV's by pasting photo,
Secretarial and telephone services both PC to call and mobiles, and
publication. Two farmer groups have re-shaped and resumed their
business following KIRSEC advice-mango pickling and vegetable seed
production are significants.
Challenges met/bottle necks of KIRSEC:
-Low investment of both operational and productive facilities/softwares
due to funding frustrations
-Subsidiary funding as a back up of the business
-Gap between Public-Donors/Private/Partnership (PPP)
-Poor recognition and link by Government/Donors of the already
established local/indigenous rural private sector like KIRSEC.
-Need of Research and Development (R&D) in regards to shaping the
business and spreading to other Districts.
D) My topical interests
(still open)
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