Appropriating Technology for Ultra Poor Women – Smartphone Apps for Agricultural Improvement
Appropriating Technology for Ultra Poor Women – Smartphone Apps for Agricultural Improvement
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Providing access to “just in time” information on crop choice, planting technique, care, harvest and marketing of produce is one of the key challenges in improving livelihood of rural ultra poor women and their households. In 2019 Trickle Up, an NGO dedicated to enhancing the economic and social inclusion of ultra poor women, completed the pilot stage of partnership with Tata Communications to address these challenges through mobile technology. To support the agricultural activities of ultra-poor households, Trickle Up developed mobile based applications which were uploaded on smartphones provided to 1000 women participating in its programs in Odisha and Jharkhand, in partnership with the Odisha Livelihood Mission (OLM) and Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society (JSLPS).
This case study outlines key learnings from this project, drawing on data from internal monitoring and external evaluation. Results show that custom apps significantly facilitated adoption of improved agricultural practices and complemented the work of frontline staff in conveying training messages. This included supporting scientific cultivation practices, informed decision making around crop choice and adoption of newer farming techniques, as well as positive follow-up action enabled through access to smartphones.
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