Enhancing Rural Access

♤ Government should introduce and promote the concept of smart villages in the policy making as well as administration in order to make villages more techno-savvy and environmental sustainable.

♤ While investing in communication infrastructure the focus should be on financially viable and socially acceptable approaches that are accessible to the rural poor.

♤ The Government should, ensure low prices for broadband Internet in rural areas.

♤ Foster combined public private efforts and cost sharing arrangements to ensure sustainability of rural information centers.

♤ Foster awareness raising and capacity building of rural communities to use and maintain ICT.

♤ Foster the adoption of information into formats and languages relevant for rural areas. Investment is needed to repackage technical information for farmers and make it available in local languages.

♤ Existing channels for technical information (e.g., extension services, radio stations) should be integrated with new communication technologies, which are accessible to farmers.