Rural areas have some typical characteristics associated with huge limitations in terms of communication and other infrastructural facilities. But if the rural areas, especially in the developing countries, are located in such a region which are by means of geographic location problematic, the problems associated with the rural community reciprocate. Such a situation can be solved by promoting community awareness with the help of ICT.

Virtual Academy for the Semi-Arid Tropics (VASAT) has shows the way. International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and International Water Management Institute (IWMI), with the support of the ICT-KM programme of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and the Desert Margins Programme in WCA, have initiated the VASAT. It is a strategic information, communication and non-formal distance education coalition for rural communities and intermediaries led by ICRISAT.

What VASAT is all about?
The aims of VASAT are -
• to link rural farm communities with researchers, credible intermediaries and markets through an interface of ICT and open and distance learning (ODL) methods
• to host a virtual college of experts through a web-based learning content management system (LCMS) and link them with various stakeholders
• to empower vulnerable rural communities to collectively identify problems, articulate their needs and take up informed action in relation to drought preparedness

VASAT emphasizes creating demand-driven easy-accessible, easily understandable content that can be applied by rural stakeholders. Need-based content thus developed with national or international partners is uploaded at www.vasat.org. which are then accessed and adapted by local partners, intermediaries and rural farm communities. Trained community animators in partner organisations and multi-disciplinary professionals act as field experts. In this way, VASAT turns scientific knowledge into practical solutions to help mitigate the effects of drought and desertification. It offers life-long learning opportunity to the poor, less-educated and illiterate people of the semi-arid tropics (primary learners). VASAT complements, supplements and builds on existing agricultural extension-communication initiatives, it designs content into instructional modules which create a foundation for further learning, keeping in mind literacy levels. VASAT is sustained by community involvement, local relevance and strategic partnerships among local, national and international organisations.

VASAT in Asia and Africa
VASAT is operating as a virtual academy in South Asia (SA) and West and Central Africa (WCA), in partnership with the Deserts Margins Programme. It is an innovative and cost-effective medium to inform, educate and support a critical mass of rural women and men spread across vast geographical areas about drought and desertification.

It is a response to the need of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) to implement a communication strategy for combating drought and desertification. The Seed support and technical advice are being provided by Commonwealth of Learning (COL) while the Technical Partners are Sun Microsystems and US National Academy of Sciences.

In India, a pilot information hub with connectivity to the Internet was established in Addakal village, in partnership with Andhra Pradesh Rural Livelihoods Programme. A 4,200-member federation of micro-credit societies of rural women uses the hub for their information needs. It has a low-cost connectivity to the Internet. ICRISAT in Hyderabad offers significant advice and feedback on content. VASAT extends information/instruction support to organisations that have established hundreds of rural ICT hubs. VASAT-WCA (West and Central Africa) uses low frequency and solar powered community

FM radio stations interfaced with new digital radio satellite (WorldSpace) technology for sharing and accessing data/voice. A pilot hub was established in Niger in partnership with the local federation of farmers. Radio Kahé has a 20 Km radius, reaching about 4,000 villagers. A broadcast program dedicated to VASAT and integrated with agricultural broadcasts is aired six hours a week. The other pilot station is located 300 Km from Niamey in a village called Gabi.

Recent activities of VASAT
VASAT is an active member of the National Alliance for Mission 2007, which organised the First National Virtual Congress of Farmers, (NVC) a part event of the 93rd Indian Science Congress in Hyderabad (India). In NVC, The President of India, APJ Abdul Kalam met with drought stricken farm families of seven villages from across India via video link. He answered their questions on drought management and improved agricultural practices. An expert centre was organised at ICRISAT, Hyderabad for the Virtual Congress. More information is available at
http://www.vasat.org, http://www.icrisat.org

Source: ICRISAT, Hyderabad (India)