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Cyber-pastoralists in Senegal

Waly Niane, representing Veterinary Products Laboratories (LAPROVET) in Senegal, preaches for use of ICT by farmers in the country. For information on diseases, weather, market and curb the phenomenon of cattle rustling, the Internet is the solution.

"The Senegalese farmers must tame the new technologies of information and communication technologies (ICTs). More than a slogan, it is the real workhorse of Waly Niane, field officer of the Veterinary Products Laboratories (LAPROVET). "We need to think about professional use of ICT in livestock, "says he.

" People, remote media and information sources need to be informed. The ICT could be used in epidemiological surveillance, for example, "Waly says Niane. They would closely monitor diseases that affect animals (such as FMD or rinderpest) by establishing a system of early warning in order to find solutions to the problem as fast. Herders have, indeed, need to know the characteristics of these conditions, the rate at which they spread and the regions they touch.

The Caravan passes

Weather data will be centralized and accessed by farmers, who are heavily dependent. These can also learn about the market situation. "The farmers produce but do not know where to sell their production. In Guinea Bissau, for example, sheep are very rare but the Senegalese farmers do not know," said Waly Niane.

Another advantage: the contribution of ICTs in the fight against cattle rustling, become massive in recent years the country's borders and "that takes away a lot of money to farmers ". Again, the establishment of a network is essential to share information, establish an identification system for animals and a warning system.

While recognizing that access of farmers to the hardware is still difficult and expensive, the representative of LAPROVET, is optimistic. "We must set up Internet kiosks accessible to rural communities in need," he pleads. A Caravan Multimedia currently touring the country's most remote countries, for six months. "It is an opportunity to speak LAPROVET breeders, and to raise awareness of ICT. "Then comes the time for training and ownership by farmers of the internet. Do not put the cart before the horse ...