Innovations in ICT Use in Agriculture

Innovation not Invention

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7% ICT’s Contribution to Africa’s GDP

USD 56B from the Private Sector in

Telecom

USD 150B Projected ICT Market by 2016

ICT Infrastructure Growth in Africa2012 2014 Projection

Over 615,000 km of National Backbone

Networks

x20 Growth of Internet bandwidth (2008–2012)

ICTs in Agriculture

Enhancing Productivity

Market Information ServicesSimple MIS Complex Platform

Communications and Extension

Supporting Innovation – iHubs in Africa

Crowdsourcing for Agriculture

Women's Use of ICTs in Agriculture

• Participatory GIS (PGIS)• Participatory Video (PV)• Capacity building• Online advocacy

ICTs Empowering Communities

Photo credits: Leon J.; Gawlik K, Rambaldi. G

Participatory GIS• Documenting, geo-referencing and

adding value and authority to local knowledge

• Giving a voice to local communities (advocacy)

• Facilitating community-based planning

(value chains; disaster risk reduction)

... and CTA impact in ACP regions

Centres of excellence established in East Africa, Caribbean and Pacific

Enhancing institutional capacity in the use of Social Media and Web 2.0

To empower agricultural stakeholders to better communicate, cooperate and

participate in policy processes and along value chains.

Key resultSome best entrants are becoming strong advocates and ambassadors of youth in agriculture

In order to

•Put into limelight youth in agriculture issues and successes• Encourage the use of ICT by young farmers’ groups

CTA has launched the

Activities include• promotion of youth-led ICT innovations in

agriculture• ICT training for rural youth centres and young

farmers• Business training sessions

Strengthening youth employment opportunities in Southern Africa in ICT and agriculture (SOFIA)

•Launched in Swaziland by the Prime Minister of Swaziland – April 2013

CTA is supporting the project

ICT4Ag: Major Constraints & Prospects

Mawingu - Low-Cost, Solar-Powered Broadband Access Using Cutting-Edge TV White

Space Technology

Google Loon Project – balloons connecting

ICTs for Agriculture Conference

Conference Streams1.Emerging innovations in ICT

2.Capacity strengthening 3.Enabling environments

• 4 – 7 Nov 13 in Rwanda, parallel conf. activity

• Aim: • showcasing and promoting ICT innovations enhancing agriculture during the conference

• supporting ICT innovations and entrepreneurship in agriculture (follow-up activities)

•Contribute to rebranding agriculture’s image for youth

• Collaboration with African ICT innovation spaces

In conclusion…• The potential for ICTs in Agriculture is high…..But it will take• Public-Private-Partnership

– Enabling environments– Investment in rural ICT infrastructure

• Capacity Strengthening and Empowerment– Recognize the potentials of the youth e.g. iHubs– Support innovative application development

• Support for Scaling Up of Innovations

More Information: www.ictupdate.cta.int