I'm starting a new category of posts based on the theme of 'WorldSaver'.
maybe it's the time i have had on hand to ponder about issues and i do enjoy watching TED.
i'm no economist, scientist, academic or intellectual. Most of what i post may be rather hairbrained or non feasible and i don't think it'd be only green issues that i'd be writing about as the world need not always be defined as the world at large.
so here's something that i'd written about a year back....
WorldSaver Idea No. 1
Background
The recent global rice price hike of 70% over the past couple of years is worrying. There is good reason to because it is a staple for two-thirds of the world's population and two-thirds of these people, who live in developing countries, can ill-afford to weather through such a crisis.
Many blame it on climate change, with changes in weather affecting output of rice but the problem is multi-faceted, involving growing affluence in some developing countries and long-term government and business policies. For example, some countries dropped rice cultivation to develop its bio-fuel industry as the latter is a more profitable option, while others had put up their agricultural lands for expanding industries and residential projects. Hence a phenomenon of ex-rice producers buying from other rice producers took place. This has led to complacency as they believe that stockpiles could be built up with foreign supplies. The shortfall in supply is further aggravated with governments practicing protectionist policies in the face of falling production and rising costs .
Many third world economies are also plagued with mismanagement and corruption by their political charges. While food aid has been donated, they may not reach the needy but rather end up being sold in black markets. The rise in prices of everyday commodities like rice may push these communities to the edge and inflame resentment that will burn the already-stretched social fabric.
Objectives
We recognize that to enable these countries to make an effective leap out of poverty, constructive approaches to empower the people with knowledge is important. While it may take decades to combat low literacy rates and corruption, the international community does not have the luxury of time to deal with this crisis. We need a adopt a proactive approach to meet the following objectives:
• to encourage self-reliance and self sustenance
• to encourage an effective increase in production of staple crops
• to encourage the diversification of staple crops
Proposal for Mobile Staple Bank Project
An NGO-run “Mobile Staple Bank” is proposed. The NGO must first leverage on existing financial infrastructure in rural communities and partner with these local financial institutions. A model of micro-credit banking by Grameen Bank has been proven effective in Bangladesh. This will create a certain sense of self-reliance in people as they see potential in managing their own finances and can tap on funds for their own enterprises.
The other prerequisite is to work with governments and private enterprises such as internet service providers and telcos to provide wireless broadband access and open source technologies for these rural communities . There had been similar initiatives across rural communities in recent years and with the gradual decrease in infrastructural prices such initiatives are more affordable than before. The corresponding improvement in nomadic connectivity through WiMAX will mark significant boosts for applications like VOIP and online education for the people.
The NGO is to maintain a mobile fleet of “financial advisors” who will work with local authorities to identify and access remote rural communities. The advisors will travel to and offer free Mobile Staple accounts to the population and advise on “financial” services. These services are designed to help communities “save up” their rice supplies, take loans and trade their produce with other local or international markets via Mobile Staple accounts. Account holders, whom many are illiterate, will receive unique 2D datamatrix logins that can be printed on inexpensive durable fabric or synthetic stickers. They then use these to access their accounts when the Mobile Staple Bank comes by.
These advisors will have with them sets of wireless-enabled Ultra-mobile PCs that act as terminals. These will access wirelessly to a Mobile Staple Mobile Server in their vehicle. This in turn connects remotely to a Mobile Staple Central Server located at the nearest city centre. These Ultra-mobile PCs will also be linked to a mobile ATM.
Account holders will access the Ultra-mobile PCs by scanning in their 2D datamatrix. The Ultra-mobile PCs should have icon-based multi-touch screen GUI that allows account holders to select services such as trading of rice, loans or savings of credits and surplus stocks. The setup may have a platform where producers have direct access to purchasers. Mobile Rice advisors will then educate account users on how to track market prices and moderate their own prices accordingly. The advisors will also be at hand to help purchases between communities who are on this network. An important feature in Mobile Staple is that account holders can access hard currency there and then once loans or withdrawals are processed and updated via the network.
The Mobile Staple Mobile Server may also house a database for informal learning, as account holders access repository of information such as video on improved cultivation methods through the terminals that they are using . The advisors can also use this platform to encourage these communities to diversify their production of staples to include carbohydrate-rich tubers such as tapioca, sweet potatoes and potatoes and to increase their yields and income. Such machines may also have a built-in camera and VOIP function that enables users to communicate with overseas buyers or agricultural experts. Such interactions will garner valuable information in helping international researchers develop methods in alleviating the rice shortage.
Conclusion
The issues cannot be tackled by developing countries alone. Developed countries and urbanized communities must realize they are not spared of the rising costs. With their rich resources, they can engage in research to develop experimental approaches in scalable production of staples.
As developed countries attempt to educate and promote the consumption of alternative staples within its populations, changing entrenched traditional and cultural mindsets about rice consumption is difficult. Education of such issues to the young, through interactive media, such as Food Force , may be an effective approach. But for now, the immediate concern is to address the issues in developing rice-producing communities while stabilizing costs and increasing production of rice.
Reference
Rice prices 'to keep on rising'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7341978.stm
Price rise
http://www.straitstimes.com/Free/Story/STIStory_221445.html
Grameen Bank
http://www.grameen-info.org/
Connecting Remote Communities
http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict_stories/themes/connecting.html
WiMAX
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WiMAX
Multi-Touch Systems that I Have Known and Loved
http://www.billbuxton.com/multitouchOverview.html
The Digital Green Project
http://www.digitalgreen.org/
World Food Programme’s Food Force
http://www.food-force.com/
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