Kombewa Hills                 Farming 

 Kombewa Hills Research & Training Centre -KHRTC-​

 

Information technology has provided a stable platform for new business models, business processes and ways of distributing knowledge and information. Competitive companies’ are highly relying on these information systems and technologies to drive their businesses and enforce their goals and strategies. 

 

The declining cost of IT and its increasing power in capabilities shows that today’s organisations cannot compete merely on the basis of a technology setup alone. The quality of service offered by the employees will act as a trajectory for future competitiveness, thus making empowerment a prerequisite for future competitiveness where IT facilitates business operations. This shows  the importance of the local community having an element of personal empowerment i.e. the ability to change one’s behaviour when appropriate, in response to new situations and to be accountable for one’s own actions.

 

 The main concepts that form the back bone of empowerment are: autonomy on the job, control of one’s own work and self-directed teamwork, of which can be categorized as: Freedom to act, commitment and collaboration. Employees that are provided with an environment that promotes the mentioned characteristics increase the probability of organisational success due to their individual efforts being focussed towards the same goals and thus carrying with it immense potential for improving productivity. KHRTC aims to self empower the local community with information and training on sustainable methods of organic farming to ensure future food security.

 

 Information Value on Potential Empowerment

 

Information has the potential of placing the beholder with an added advantage if it is received prior to others. This may be used to either benefit the individual or the concerned recipients before passing the information to others. hence giving some power to the holder of the information. On the other hand, if this knowledge is not shared and applied in solving organizational and managerial problems, then it adds no value to the business. KHRTC extends the value concept of using relevant knowledge by ensuring that it supports effectiveness in organizational working as well as enabling employees to act in ways that add more value to the firm.

 

Information is really a powerful and valuable asset of any organization and if acquired in advance, could act as a potential advantage to strengthening its strategic position compared to its competitors. Competitive intelligence exists when an employee gathers or possesses information on their competitors, which may be used to accelerate their own business performance. This increase in market knowledge may come from different sources such as academics, professionals, established agro-preneurs, government sources, the internet or through information systems designed for that purpose. Traceability is paramount in organic farming and will be ensured through an E-Traceability Information System (ETIS) which will require members to update their daily progress both online and offline. Lead farmers will monitor and collect the traceability forms / paperwork on a weekly basis to ensure it is uploaded on the website's ETIS which will be accessible at the research & training centre (KHRTC). E-Extension services can then be offered on a weekly basis from our panel of experts who will have access to the data on the submiitted forms.

 

We recognize that increasing the availability of knowledge, which is required in decision-making may lead to fully empowering the community and employees. The capabilities of information systems enable them to provide the necessary tools that provide knowledge and coupled with the right training, may lead to better performance which is expected from empowered employees. We strongly believe that better performance may arise from knowing how to perform activities effectively and efficiently compared to other similar organisations, hence leading to having a competitive advantage. KHOF's E-Traceability Information System (ETIS) encourages encourages the sharing of knowledge across business units in order to enhance competency. Within our organic farm setting, farmers will have a knowledge management system within which agronomists, vets, researchers and experts across different fields may feed the knowledge repository i.e. data warehouse with useful information that may be retrieved by other members of the community and staff to make decisions or solve problems effectively.