NZ project targets bigger net gain for poor farmers

By RICHARD WOOD

A New Zealand research project in Peru, aiming to show how broadband internet access can cure poverty, may also provide lessons that can be applied globally.

Unitec's Centre for Information Technology Research (Citrus) plans to set up a satellite-connected "telecentre" to provide internet-connected PCs for the subsistence farming community of Antabamba.

Antabamba, in the mountains of northern Peru and 4000 metres above sea level, at present communicates with the world through one radio telephone and is the pilot site for a number of potential rollouts.

Unitec e-business lecturer and Spanish speaker Logan Muller has been scoping the project and discussions have been held with local and international agencies and the farmers themselves. Government agencies involved include the Peru Ministry of Agriculture, the International Centre for the Potato, and Osiptel - the regulatory body for telecommunications.

On the education side a resource programme called Proyecto Huascaran is involved that is funded by Microsoft, the World Bank, and Peru's Ministry of Education. Citrus director Andy Williamson said Peruvian universities were also involved but did not have the funds for such projects.

He would not comment on where funding would be coming from but said the initial phase had been funded by Unitec.

Williamson said there should not be a huge cost for Unitec but there was a gain in learning and in the relationship with colleagues in Peru.

He said the project had similarities to what Unitec was doing in West Auckland helping low decile communities get internet access.

The project is based in part on work in Mexico and Brazil. Williamson said that in this case the challenge would be the "absolute remoteness", but fortunately Peru already has two-way satellite capability.

The first step will be to put in place the telecentre and train local trainers, who will train the rest of the community. Training and support is expected to be needed for a year and four visits are planned from New Zealand of two to four weeks' duration.

Peru's Ministry of Agriculture is setting up a central information system the farmers can tap into with information on crop management and farming techniques.

Williamson said the farming network was the immediate aim, and once the technology is in place it could be used by other groups such as new mother support, education, and tourism operation.

"It's very much an economic policy with a strong social policy spin off. It's about giving people the skills and resources to be more gainfully employed and therefore generate economic benefits for the region."

He said to make a phone call at present took two hours and cost three days' wages. The region has been chosen precisely because it is one of the poorest in Peru.