INFONET BIOVISION
Infonet-Biovision, commonly referred to as ‘Infonet’, is a web-based information platform and one of the information dissemination and knowledge sharing projects under the Biovision Farmer Communication Programme (FCP). Infonet helps to bridge the digital divide between the users and researchers by translating and availing scientific and hard to comprehend information in more user-friendly formats. It synergizes and complements the other FCP projects, offering trainers, students, extension workers, and farmers quick access to up-to-date and locally relevant agricultural information that contributes to sustainable agriculture and rural development
Infonet is a database with scientific and practical validated information and knowledge related to plant (crop), animal, human, and environmental health. The resource gives farmers, trainers, students, and extension workers quick access to up-to-date and locally relevant agricultural information and related topics in 4H thematic areas of Plant Health, Animal Health, Human Health, and Environmental Health. Through this, Infonet aims to contribute to poverty reduction and environmental protection ultimately.
The information presented is specific for East Africa but is accessed worldwide and useful for many tropical countries. Infonet has almost half a million global users per year, half of them from African countries, and 25 percent from Kenya. Infonet content is available for both online and offline use. An offline version is produced and packaged in a USB stick or downloaded from the Infonet website. The main users of Infonet offline are farmers and extension officers based in rural areas where the internet is costly, and internet speed is slow, hence the availability of the offline version.