The presentation is a case study of e-Krishok, an initiative of BIID to integrate ICT in agriculture sector and developing a service brand.

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Harnessing ICTs to Improve Agricultural
Extension : Sharing e-Krishok experiences
Bangladesh Institute of ICT in Development (BIID)
March 2015

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BIID is a private sector initiative that
offers a range of services aimed at
development and promotion of ICT
based information and services
market in Bangladesh
It’s distinction lies in clear
understanding of issues &
opportunities to benefit the
poor with the use of ICTs and
consider local dynamics
BIID envisions in becoming a reliable
and leading enterprise offering
strategic planning, implementation
assistance and consulting services to
public, private and other initiatives in
ICT based services market of
Bangladesh and in other developing
countries
BIID’s key strategy is to ensure Making
ICT works for poor as an effective tool &
cross cutting issue. And build on the
existing system and available as well as
emerging technologies and potential
users
Inclusive
Business
Introduction of BIID

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www.sme.com.bd
Proudly Bangladesh
www.ekrishok.com
Partners and Services of BIID
ICT4D Journal
Farmbook
Market Linkage
Program

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Farmer
(Male)
Input
Mobile(Text
andVoice)
Target Group
and Service
Recipient,
specially
targeting
youth
Extension
Service
Providers
Extension
Service
Delivery Tools
For women
farmers these
options are
more limited
For women farmers
customized & ICT
solutions are more
effective
BIID Framework of the existing eco-system of
Extension Advisory Services (EAS) in Bangladesh
BusinessModel
Sustainable
Business
Model for EAS
* Direct Communication includes visits,
Court Yard Meeting, and Group Meeting
** Knowledge Sharing covers ICT enabled
training and knowledge repository

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Why e-Krishok?: Constraint Addressed
Access to Information and input
(Timely, Relevant, Quality, Easily)
Access to Marketing
(Price Info, Options, Linkage, Payments)

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Myth vs Reality on ICT usage in Agriculture
ICT can
solve
everything
Farmers
are not
‘smart’
ICT is
for the
‘Elites’
1. ICT is only a tool and can become an effective enabler
2. Services has to be need based rather than supply driven
3. Focusing more on services not in ‘technology’
Important

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Brief on e-Krishok
• A service basket to offer ICT supported information
and advisory services targeted to farmers (as in crop,
poultry, fisheries and livestock farming).
• To facilitate the Extension and Advisory Services
(EAS) as development enabler to contribute to
income growth and better living conditions of the
farmers, agro-entrepreneurs and other potential
income generating groups in rural Bangladesh
• Implemented by Bangladesh Institute of ICT in
Development (BIID) jointly with partners.
• More details are available at www.ekrishok.com

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e-Krishok : Vision and Mission
Making ICT work for farmers not only as medium of
communication but also as development enabler.
Mission
Empower farmers to harness and mobilize their collective
awareness and efforts in realizing benefits of ICT to improve
livelihoods through increased farm productivity and income
growth.
Strategies
-Effectively reach farmers and underserved communities in the
rural areas with relevant services delivered through CICs and
other ICT based information networks and -Involve farmers in
the process of service development & promotion of CIC as
service access points

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e-Krishok : Driven by Demand and Supply
Mapping existing services, providers & roles
Understand the success factors & causes of failure
Identify the incentives (Business Case)
Capacity of extension dept. & research institutes
Quality and validation of content
• Need based & trust worthy quality content
• Packaging (Tool, low cost, access & availability)
• Market driven and branded services
• Policy and environment friendliness
Expected
Future
Scenario

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Anintegrated
solution
DemandDriven
Approach
Accessibilitytoinformationandmarket

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e-Krishok and The Disruptive Business Model
• Traditional business model is not ‘functional’ in e-
Agriculture domain to serve the ‘poor farmers’, BIID follow
market led inclusive business approach with disruptive
business model
• Collaborative approach among different stakeholders (Govt.,
Private sector, Development Agencies & Academia)
• Continuous Innovation
• Build on existing system and resources
• Fusion of traditional and modern ICT tools in service
delivery (Voice vs Field Demonstration)

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Evolution Phases of e-Krishok
Phase I
Phase II
Phase III
Scale Up
Inception of the
concept as Service
Campaign
Proof of Concept (ICT
as EAS), Partnership
and widening scopesTransformation as
Service Basket and
Business Model
Offering services
through private
sector led model
Innovation
Process

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e-Krishok: Phase I
Inception of the concept as Service Campaign
Idea conceptualization in 2008
Piloted in 10 locations with 2000 farmers
50% of farmers were convinced
Feedback was documented
Outcome
BIID foresee the potential of e-Krishok service
brand (Not as only campaign)

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Service Delivery Model : Phase I
BP and CIC
Based Model

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
Info Centres
Reply from
Web / online
resources
Advisory
Panel
Experts
Help Desk
at BIID
Specialist
Extension
department
Service Provider

Farmers/Users
Services
(Information and service)
Solution in ICT enabled
and traditional media
Info Centre owner /
Operator maintain
the contact and
communicate to
get the solution as
asked by the
Farmers / customers
Content update
team will contact
with the sector
Specific focal point
to meet the query
and update content
Service delivered
by using Internet
/ mobile or any
other media
Experts
may
directly
Contacted
over phone
GP CIC Based Model
Service Delivery Model : Phase I

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Phase II : Proof of Concept (ICT as EAS),
Partnership and widening scopes

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Key Questions Resolved :Value
propositions for Partners
- Understanding the power and weaknesses of
partnerships
- Win-win propositions for ‘all stakeholders’
- Focusing on scale and
- Ensure innovation process continues and adopt field
learning
Outcome
Partnership with DAE, ACI, GP launched

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Smart Farmer: Smart Future
“Smart Farmer, Smart
Future” is an
Innovation Hunt to
promote ICT enabled e-
Krishok services in
agricultural sector
through awareness
building, training and
organizing a
competition for idea
generation.
Campaign
Idea
Generation
Awareness
Capacity
Building
Recognition

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Integration of Farmbook – New Feather in e-Krishok

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Transformation as Service Basket and
Business Model in Phase III
- Widening service baskets and service branding under
e-Krishok
- Facilitate 360 degree solutions to the farmers in all
through out the production cycle (Pre-production –
Planning, Production – Management, Post
Production – Harvesting, storage & Marketing)
- Strategic shift from content development field,
develop an online knowledge repository
- Introduce ICT based data collection from field
- Continue innovation (Innovate or Die !!!)

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360 degree solution for Farmers
e-Krishok
Post-Production
Production
Pre-
Production
Extension
Services and
Business
Planning
Market
Linkages
Capacity
Building

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Scaling Up: Offering services through
private sector led model
- Integration of EAS as an embedded service for the
Input companies (Zero cost EAS)
- Develop core message – Farming is Business: Think
like an entrepreneur and facilitate ICT solutions
- Focusing on advanced solutions (Like Drone based
irrigation scheduling)
- Consider social media, cyber security issues and
prioritize environmental aspects
- Replication of the concept among other partners
locally and abroad (Pakistan, Tanzania)

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• Business
Model and
Scaling up
• EAS Provider
• Field
Activation &
Operation
• EAS Provider
• Technology
Solution
• M&E
• Mentoring
• Extension
Message
• Feedback
&
Adoption
DAE /
Research
Org
BIID
Private
Sector
Local
Service
Provider
Farmer
Innovation&
Partnership
Demand Analysis
Service Assessment
Customization
ICT Solution Pack
(Mobile Based)
Demonstration, Training and Awareness
Service Delivery
Validation and
Engagement
Partnership
Zero Cost EAS: A new Business Model for Mobile
Based ICT Solution for Farmers

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Social Media Diagram
Social
Media
in BIID
Facebook
Marketing &
Branding
Sharing&Learning
(Knowledge
Transfer)
How do BIID see Social Media?

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The Theory of Change
• A trusted service brand to focus on
Agriculture sector and Farmers
• Make ICT as a friendly tool to bridge the
digital divide gap
• Easy and affordable access the service
• Create value proposition for all relevant
stakeholders

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Happy Faces are Sustainability

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