ICT for Ag – win-win or just a hype?

Bashir Jama‏

AGRA, Ghana‏

AGRA’s‏mission

To trigger a uniquely African

Green Revolution that transforms

smallholder agriculture into a

highly productive, efficient,

competitive and sustainable

system that assures food security

and lifts millions out of poverty.

2

Growing List of Partners

African governments

Regional Economic

Communities

Funding partners

Private sectorFarmers

Sweden

Implementing partners

Neema Agricole du Faso

(seed company)

Farmer Organizations

The potentialICT solutions are much

needed for improving

access to production

technologies,

remunerative markets,

and affordable financing

in an inclusive manner.

–

4

Demonstrations:‏‘Seeing‏is‏beleiving’

Options: video van, drama, mobile, radio…….

Access limited-80% of Africa is till uncovered

Other constraints

• Cost – competition;

regulation?

• Content – relevance;

reliability?

• Education – rural vs urban

folks?

9

ICT4Ag: 5 game changers• Demand driven messages –

understand clients needs better

• Engage farmers/clients in message

development

• Messages vetted by experts

• Develop sound feedback

mechanisms

• Network‏and‏share‏‘best‏practices’10

Finally..Policy incentives are essential for

enhancing universal access that

breaks the digital divide between

urban that meets the needs of the

stakeholders

– 11

bjama@agra.org

Visit AGRA’s website: ww.agra.org

Thank you