Empowering Rural Women Farmers through E-Learning

An exciting initiative is underway to leverage technology to bring literacy training, agricultural extension, financial education and market information to women farmers in rural areas of India. Through a partnership between Intel and NABARD, facilitated by the Sunhara Walmart project, selected villages in Uttar Pradesh will receive digital learning centers.

On average, over 40 percent of women are illiterate in Ghaziabad and Agra districts. Illiteracy affects one’s ability to access important agricultural extension information (such as training materials or instructions on input packages) as well as market information (such as price updates) and fair marketing commitments (such as signed agreements). Therefore addressing illiteracy is an important element of the Sunhara Walmart project, an agricultural development and empowerment initiative that works with 2,500 women farmers in Ghaziabad and Agra on overall socioeconomic empowerment. The project is implemented by Agribusiness Systems International (ASI) with funding from the Walmart Foundation.

Using broadband networks, the e-learning center pilot activity will start with two centers located in close proximity to the Mahila Kisan Vikas Sansthan Federation (a group of women farmers), existing retail outlets and the local Mandi (marketplace). Based on the success of the model and a process of capturing best practices, the activity will be scaled up to eight villages. After conducting a needs assessment in the project area, the Intel team designed the e-learning centers to counter constraints that women face, such as illiteracy, transportation difficulties and low market prices.

Inauguration Event

On November 6, 2012, an inauguration event was hosted to celebrate the launch of the first center. Speakers included Amit Tuteja from Intel, Arvind Mukherjee from NABARD, Amit Singh and Anna Cuny Garloch from ASI, Neelam Tyagi, Ravita, Pushpa, and Sharmistha from the Mahila Kisan Vikas Sansthan Federation, and Mr. Arvind from Bharti Walmart. Over 100 women from the federation attended and had the opportunity to ask questions, speak with Intel and agricultural experts participating remotely via Skype (including Intel’s Manav Subodh and the Indian Agricultural Research Institute’s Dr. J.P. Sharma) and celebrate with traditional songs and dance. One woman shared that this is the first computer in this village.

Digital Center to Enable Access to Financial, Agricultural and Social Advocacy Resources

By December 2012, training courses covering computer basics and financial literacy will be offered in two e-learning centers covering Shyampur, Lalpur and Chipkauli, serving a total of 600 women. Fifty women, all currently lead farmers in their communities and working with the Sunhara Walmart project, will serve as resources to train other women on how to use the technology and access training. The technology includes a desktop computer, a broadband connection and an inverter, and will leverage applications such as Google Hangout, Skype, and over 70 hours’ worth of interactive training materials developed by Intel (e.g., around internet literacy and business skills) and NABARD (e.g., animation-based modules around financial literacy and basic English language). A local NGO, Laxmi Jan Kalyan Sewa Sansthan, is working directly with the women’s federation to ensure effective ownership and management of e-literacy activities. ASI has taken a facilitative approach to train the partner NGO on federation management through exposure visits.

In addition to providing support to the digital literacy initiative, Intel will form linkages with the Agricultural University for Crop Advisory and the National Commission of Women, a national organization with the mandate of protecting and promoting the interests of women. These linkages will also facilitate access to financial services (savings and credit) from institutions such as NABARD, provide information on weather and market price, and make available the resources of existing government poverty-reduction programs.

This multifaceted initiative is leveraging the power of the digital age to further access by rural women to important services, skills and networks. This access empowers women as viable stakeholders in the local agricultural economy and helps them develop localized, self- sustaining enterprises.

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