ICT Observatory 2013

Strengthening e-agriculture strategies in

ACP countries

Ken Lohento, ICT Programme Coordinator, CTA

Wageningen24 -26 April, 2013

Preparatory e-discussion

• 08 to 25 February 2013• Identification of needs

and issues• Issues for the workshop

to discsus• Identify existing

processes, best practices, recommendations

• 10 working days; 173 unique contributions (17 countributions per day)• 40 participants, from ACP, EU countries and

beyond (Philippines, Vietnam, India, etc.)• 6 key questions

Key observationsNeed : There is a need to have ICT for agriculture

stratragies or e-agriculture strategies - it will help:• Better ICT integration in the sector• Development and financial resource planning, coordination • Awareness raising - Research - capacity building• Improved access to information for farmers• Information management and knowledge sharing• Regional strategies/guidelines may come first

• Few countries have e-agric strategies; ICT4agric projects existent; scattered; no coord.; • Mention of ICT 4 agric strategies in national ICT4D

strategies Mali, Burkina, Côte d’Ivoire, Mauritius – holistic

approach in e-agric strategies, not implemented? In some cases, only sub-sectoral/partial approach within

the agric sector, and not all key areas targetted

• Discontinued references (in ICT or agric strategies)

Key observations

• Target areas Trade/market – (SIM, etc.) Extension/advisory services (early warning systems) ICT/Youth and agriculture Traceability /RFID, localization of land/use of Research and development/innovation systems Agricultural knowledge management Capacity building of agric stakeholders

• Key tools Mobile phones but radio important, even for MIS.

Key observations

STAKEHOLDERS E-AGRICULTURE STRATEGY PHASES

 Formulate Implement Evaluate

Farmers Consulted Responsible Informed, Consulted

Govt. ICT Dept. Co-lead Support Informed

Govt. Agriculture  Dept. Lead, Accountable Lead, Accountable Informed

Internat’l Agencies Consulted Informed, Support Informed, Support

Private Sector ConsultedSupport, Responsible

Informed, Consulted

Academia & Research Institutes

Consulted Support Lead, Responsible

A framework for developing e-agricutlure strategy that emerged in discussions

Key recommendations1. Policy work needs to take less time; need to be implemented,

evaluated2. Practical implementation should continue3. Within agric, national holistic or sub-sectoral approaches needed4. Baseline studies and knowledge sharing needed5. More govmt awareness, continuity, leadership 6. Important role for mobile ph; radio still needed7. MSH policies needed - (farmer, youth, PS, different gov bodies)8. Funding : Key - International but also local9. Awareness raising / Capacity building for ICT 4 Ag, 10.ICT infrastructure needed