The ARDYIS – Youth Exchange and Training Workshop on Web 2.0 for Agriculture and Rural Development was indeed a unique and worthwhile endeavour which in fact achieved the objectives of enhanced capacity and initiative amongst youth leaders in ACP countries.  Indeed, the sessions, facilitated by Information specialist, Mr. Chisenga, were thought-provoking and interactive and served to further enhance skills and capabilities in the area of ICT, a phenomenon which is most welcome in our communities.

The practical uses to which drop box, blogger, wiki, google maps, ping fm, and Really Simply Syndication (RSS), can be put, were reiterated by the various sessions which highlighted the fundamental role that these media play in not only the dissemination of pertinent information regarding agriculture and rural development but also, provided a knowledge-base from which innovations in key sectors of our societies can be embarked upon. 

From the discussions, several issues were highlighted and important perspectives were generated from the youth.  Some of the major challenges which were identified include the lack of participation of youths in the decision making process in respect of agriculture, the historically negative attitude toward agriculture as an activity of the “old” and educationally incapacitated, phony political representation on major issues affecting the ACP region especially in respect of ICT and its relationship to rural development, and the inadequate provision of much needed resources to deal with the wide ranging issues affecting our region.

As a backdrop of these acknowledgements, it has been suggested that governments across ACP countries should get more involved in the active dissemination of information in respect of ICT and how it can be used to further enhance capacity in agriculture, in addition to the practical step of providing loans and other incentives to those youths who may be interested in marketing their various agricultural produce. The efforts which can be taken to address the issues which were raised in consequence of the discussions held are not limited to these, but rather extend to other areas such as the legal  and social sphere: the provision of legal structures to facilitate enhanced participation of the youth in ICT and agriculture and the changing of social attitudes toward agriculture.

Indeed, I can safely say that the ARDYIS project has in fact achieved its overarching purpose and is definitely something which should be further enhanced upon in the future by key stake holders in the area of ICT, agriculture and rural development.