The QAS Voucher

QAS Vouchers are handed out to individual farmers (NOT TO GROUPS!!!) by the field agent. The vouchers entitle them to ask questions of their choice and to get an answer from an expert. In physical terms the voucher is a standard information request form.

Description of Tasks

Task 1: Organise field trip for information request

The RIB will make a copy of the information request form and organise the field trip of the field agent who will go to the farmer to get his information request.

Service providers:

    * RIB

Task 2: Explain the QAS-VS, complete information request questionnaire and take pictures

Vouchers should only be handed out to individual farmers and not to a group!!!

The standard project specific questionnaire has to be used to submit an information request. Incomplete questionnaires are not admissible. The farmer is completely free to choose the question which worries him most. The field agent should take care that each voucher deals with a new issue. Only new questions are admissible. If the farmer raises an issue that was the subject of previous information request the Field Agent should direct him towards the local archive and ask him to make a different information request. A record should however be kept of such repetitive questions for purposes of analysis. This can be done by making a comment in RUN at the level of the request that was published before.

The Field Agent takes pictures that match the information request. They should also take a picture of the farmer and one that shows the environment he lives in. Consequently a minimum of three pictures should be taken for the subsequent publication of the request.

Service providers:

    * Field Agent

Task 3: Format pictures and publish information request

Requests are published by the RIB in the e-journal of the participating community. It is recommended to resize the pictures to 800*640 pixels and save them in JPEG/JPG format. This reduces the time for uploading the pictures during the publication and the time for downloading by those who search the site. The RIB can use the on-line publication form or the off-line publication form and sent the code by email to pub@runetwork.de. He should carefully read the instructions. If he publishes the request by email he should not forget to attach the pictures to the email message with the code.

Service providers:

    * RIB

Task 4: Answer the Request

For each question the QAS Agent should identify an appropriate Expert. Once the QAS-Agent has identified the expert he should make a comment in RUN at the level of the request indicating:

   1. the name of the expert
   2. his email or postal address
   3. date that he expects to publish the answer

Experts are requested to register themselves in the agricultural research database at http://www.infosysplus.org. Click on “Add your information” on the left of the screen to get to the data input page. Experts should also register their projects and the organisation to which they belong in case they are not yet in the database.

The QAS Agent will interact with the Expert to assure that the answer is provided in time. He should strictly respects the guidelines (specific project questionnaire for answers) to assure a high quality and useful answer. Answers should be precise and avoid long sentences. If possible the manuscript should not exceed two hand written pages. Photographs, illustrations and links to relevant high quality web-resources are much appreciated.

To publish the answer the AS should login to the administrative area of RUN, select the corresponding answer form from the list of requests and complete the form.

Service providers:

    * QAS-Agent: Identifies appropriate experts, formulate the answer following the guidelines and publish it on the platform
    * Experts: Provide elements of response and register at http://www.infosysplus.org

Task 5. Organise field trip for explanation and evaluation

The RIB will print out the information request, the answer and the evaluation questionnaire and organise the field trip for explanation and evaluation by the field agent.

Service providers:

    * RIB

Task 6: Explain and evaluate answer

The field agent goes to the farmer to explain the answer to the farmer and help him to complete the evaluation form (see 6.6.). He should also take a picture of the farmer with the answer in his hands.

Service providers:

    * Field Agent

Task 7: Complete on-line evaluation form

The RIB completes the on-line evaluation form and up-load the picture of the farmer with the answer in his hands. Each information request has its own evaluation form. The evaluation form is made available once the answer is published. It is accessible in the administrative area of the e-journal in which the information request was published.

Service providers:

    * RIB

Task 8: Copy to archives and radio and make a comment in RUN

The RIB distributes a printout of each question and answer at the local archives.

Once the RIB has distributed the printout of the question and the answer to the local archives he makes a comment on the level of the article with the answer.

Service providers:

    * RIB

Task 9: Controlling, Update accounting and payment

The Controlling Agent views the RUN web site, registers all participating actors, checks if tasks were completed according to the guidelines, updates the accounting records and organises payment for the actors. The involved service providers will be paid by the Controlling Agent at the end of each month according to the tariffs as defined at the TP-WS.

Service providers:

    * Controlling Agent

Task 10: Supervision of project

The project co-ordinator will monitor progress in the management section of the RUN platform. They will assist the CA to assure that guidelines are respected by the different actors and comment articles accordingly.

Service providers:

    * Project coordinator

Task 11: Backstopping and system maintenance

The RUN administrator will provide backstopping to the service providers in the target country in order to solve unforeseen problems. In especially he will assist the controlling agent to assure that service providers deliver according to the agreed guidelines and that they are payed in time. He will also help the project coordinator during reporting at the end of the project. This task also includes cost for hosting and maintenance of the RUN system.

Service providers:

    * RUN administrator

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