The State of e-Agriculture Strategies in ACP

(Background Report)

Benjamin K Addom ICT4D Programme Coordinator, CTA

2013 ICT Observatory: Strengthening e-Agriculture Strategies in ACP Countries24th April 2013, Hotel Hof Wageningen

The importance of e-Agriculture (very high)

Very low interest/understanding of the need for e-Agriculture strategies (few years back)

There are e-strategy development initiatives with different names & approaches (now)

But the agricultural sector lags behind other sectors such as health, education governance (ITU, 2010)

What do we know?

Health (e-Health) Toolkit for e-Health strategies (WHO/ITU) National e-Health strategies e.g. Lithuania, Ghana

Education (e-Learning) Jordan Education Initiative

Governance (e-Government) COMESA (guideline for developing e-Government

strategies) National e-Government strategies e.g. India

What difference are these e-strategies making?

E-strategies in other sectors

Legend 1 = Awareness Creation; 2 = Visioning/Formulation; 3 = Approval; 4 = Implementation; 5 = Monitoring & Evaluation

The state of e-Agriculture strategies

Country Importance of e-Agriculture

Experience with e-Ag. strategy

Current status of e-Ag. strategy

Leading agency/agencies

Ghana • ICT4AD policy document 2003

• E-Agriculture applications

• 2005 – “Ghana ICTs in Ag. Implementation Strategy”

• 2007/08 – Draft Report

Awaiting approval

Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)

Ivory Coast

• National Information and Communication Infrastructure (NICI) Plan 2000

• 2012 - National Strategy Document for e.Agriculture

Awaiting approval

Ministry of Post, Information Technology and Communication, and the Ministry of Agriculture

Rwanda • ICT4D policy document 2000

• NICI I, II, III (2000-2015)

• On-going consultation for a Strategic Plan for Agricultural Transformation

Formulation Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) in collaboration with other sectors

St. Lucia • National ICT Strategy (2010-2015)

• Regional ICT4D Strategy (2010)

• None Awareness creation (needed)

N/A

Fiji • Information Technology Policy (2001-2011)

• The 2011 National Broadband Policy

• None Awareness creation (needed)

N/A

Country Importance of e-Agriculture

Experience with e-Ag. strategy

Current status of e-Ag. strategy

Leading agency/agencie

s

India • National ICT policy

• Policy to ensure infrastructure

• Policy to ensure high-speed Internet

• National Agricultural Informatics Framework

Formulation The National Informatics Center (NIC)

Bangladesh • National ICT policy

Digital Bangladesh Awareness creation

Katalyst (private company) & Agriculture Information Service (public)

Bolivia 2002* - ICT strategy for the agriculture sector

Implementation IICD

Issues & Challenges

General lack of interest by stakeholdersLack of understanding of the potential of e-AgricultureInstitutional and political structuresRegulatory changes in the absence of formal policiesPoor collaboration between ministries of ICTs and Agriculture

Scarcity of electricity supplyPoor ICT infrastructureLow ICT literacyLack of relevant contentNon-integration of servicesLack of advisory servicesIssues of localisation of ICTsResource mobilisation

Formulation Implementation

Orientations and target areas General production system

Marketing/market research

Commodity specific e.g. cassava, fisheries

Farm health management informatics

Infrastructure and universal access

Training, capacity building, R&D

Forest and water resource management

Post-harvest & risk management

Local content

RecommendationsBe part of the the WSIS forum in May 2013

Commission a more detailed case study

Create a global level task force and national level committees

Build a national e-Agriculture policy toolkit

Create awareness

Ensure local leadership in the entire process

Factor in the why, which, how, and what questions of e-Agriculture

Thanks

Ben