The Indigo Trust

ICT, mobiles and agriculture in Africa

There are a little over one billion people in Africa. In sub-Saharan Africa 70% are employed in agriculture producing around 30% of GDP

Studies suggest that agricultural GDP growth is about twice as effective at relieving poverty than non-agricultural growth

Ghana is a particularly excellent example. In Ghana agricultural output is now increasing at around 5% annually. Concurrently hunger has been reduced by 75% from 1990-2004 and Ghana is on course to halve poverty based on 1990

levels thus reaching the first Millennium Development Goal.

Enabling small-holders to feed themselves and generate enough surplus to overcome shortages and make sales locally is one of the best ways to lift a

family out of poverty; opening doors to education, better health, entrepreneurship and further developments.

Agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa

73% of the world’s mobile phones are found in developing countries.

In Africa over half the population has access to a mobile phone and it is estimated that by 2020 this access could reach 100%

95% of phone users are on pre-pay plans

Internet usage has now reached 12% and is growing fast with new submarine cables allowing better speeds and mobile internet allowing access even in the most rural areas.

The African mobile and internet market is as innovative and context-driven as anywhere – “Please call me” texts and mobile money like M-PESA are African innovations that have changed millions of lives. M-PESA now handles 11% of Kenyan GDP and more than one billion “please call me” texts are sent for free every month.

Mobiles and ICT in Africa

The Indigo Trust seeks to connect African innovation in mobile and

internet technologies to the agricultural sector in order to spark

the development opportunities delivered by a sustainable food

source…

Indigo Funded Projects

Indigo Trust grant: £43,536 over 3 years

provides timely and pertinent personalised information to small hold dairy farmers in Kenya. The

world’s first “cow calendar” prompt farmers on vital days of

the bovine gestation cycle, locates the nearest vets and AI providers, collects and stores breeding and milk records and sends farmers

updates on the best dairy practices.

Indigo Trust grant: £5,700

is a Cameroon based information platform that links famers and buyers together for mutual benefit. Utilising Twitter SMS/SMS technology agro-hub allows farmers and buyers to contact a growing community of members with information about supply and demand all for the price of a single SMS which is replicated across the network.

Indigo Trust grant: £4,950

uses FrontlineSMS technology to support its AMIS-TXM system which supplies farmers with information about market prices and weather patterns. This enables farmers to harvest crops at the right time and transport them to the right market to maximise profit and reduce waste

Indigo Trust grant: £10,000

is an open source software with a custom instruction manual generator which will allow local organisations to set-up, run and administer their own Question Box. Question Box is a multi-platform communication system which allows users to request information via the hotline or SMS and receive answers in an instant. It has been trialled for many different purposes – health, education, and benefits for example – but has proved particularly successful in giving farmers access to the information they need to increase productivity and profits.

Indigo Trust grant: £10,000

are working in Tanzania using the Ushaidi platform and SMS services to map land-grabbing in the country. Land-grabbing is common in Tanzania and usually results in small-holders and local communities being forced off the farmland which feeds and generates income for them. Working with local partners the “Lets talk Land Tanzania” website is no working to stop this corrupt practice.

is a Ghanaian mobile application delivering agro-industry information and techniques to rural farmers. It comprises of two main features; a voice forum feature and automated SMS alerts. The voice forum allows farmers to make free calls to a helpline with their queries. Farmers receive an answer to their query in voice SMS – overcoming illiteracy and spreading information. Farmerline as also utilises SMS alerts to spread good practice.

Indigo Trust grant: £5,200

Other examples in the field

is a mobile insurance system offering policies to farmers with as little as one hectare of land. Payouts are aligned to local weather conditions and registration and payment is entirely online. Furthermore payouts are made through rural retailers increasing the money in the local economy.

is a web app in development in Egypt and due for launch soon. It aims to deliver “precision farming”, currently practised only by large multi-national corporation farms, to the hundreds of mid-sized farms in Egypt. Many of these farms are desert based and efficient water-use is paramount, furthermore at a distance from the market they require real-time market prices in order to transport their harvest at the most cost effective moment. Abu Erdan aims to fulfil all these needs and more.

has been developing a “Community Knowledge Worker” project in rural Uganda. Locally based individuals with a mobile phone can become an essential source of information for farmers in the area. Linking with national partners and the internet the Grameen Foundation project brings farmers the information they need in the local language and understanding local conditions.

Evidence, data and research

Lio, Liu (2005) “ICT and agricultural productivity: evidence from cross-country data”

Examining 81 countries from 1995-2000 a positive and significant relationship was found between access to ICT and agricultural productivity. It was also found however that the returns to be made from ICT usage are twice as high for rich countries when compared to poorer ones.

EuroAfrica-ICT/P8 (2012) “The Case of irrigation and ICT in Egypt”

Large technological projects can also be of immense value. In Egypt an ICT integrated water management system increased crop yields by 20% in a reclaimed desert area irrigated by two canals.

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Technology

60% reduction in cattle theft in Botswana reported by Department of Livestock following a two year trial. In Malaysia RFID value added estimates are nearly an additional $2bn over four years according to Frost and Sullivan consultants.

Websites:USAID ICT to enhance the impact of Agriculture Development mini-site:https://communities.usaidallnet.gov/ictforag/

e-agriculture.orghttp://www.e-agriculture.org/

eldis.orghttp://www.eldis.org/go/topics/resource-guides/icts-for-development

ICT in agriculturehttp://www.ictinagriculture.org/ictinag/