Institute for Food & Development Policy, with programmes in building local agri-foods systems. Based in Oakland, CA, USA

launched in early 2007 by Africa News Network

INFONET-BioVision being demonstrated during delivery and training of the VeSeL laptop in Kiangwachi

VeSeL is partnering with INFONET-BioVision which provides content about organic farming practices, with the aim to strengthen sustainable development of farmers and rural communities in Africa. Members of the INFONET-BioVision team are scheduled to visit the VeSeL partner community of Kambu during the first week of April, coordinating with VeSeL local partner the University of Nairobi.

The visiting VeSeL researchers brought back some newspapers from Nairobi, which contained some interesting things:

The Sunday Standard on 27 May 2007 had a tech section, in advance of the e-Learning Africa conference in Nairobi that week, along with a paid supplement about the conference. This included a story on the battle between cheap laptops (OLPC and Intel). It did not specify whether either would be available in Kenya, but noted that countries had until 31 May to place orders for 250,000 or more OLPCs at $175 each. Intel claimed to have orders for 'thousands' of 'Classmate' PCs at just over $200 each. Prices of both are expected to fall to below $100.

A separate story reported on Computer Aid International, which has sent over 75,000 PCs to developing countries, half of those to schools. It has provided computers to 36 weather stations in Kenya, to record and analyse data for crop and livestock productivity, and to forecast malaria outbreaks.

Our partner projects:

Infonet-Biovision
Infocast

Further information:

e-agriculture.org