Presentation by Michael Nkonu, Agriculture Programme Specialist for the mAgri Programme, GSMA Plenary Session: Why the Hype for mAgriculture? on 5 Nov 2013, ICT4Ag, Kigali, Rwanda

1. Why the Hype – Agriculture and Mobile Technology
Why the Hype - Agriculture
& Mobile Technology
Michael Nkonu (Agriculture Specialist
November, 2013
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2. Why the Hype – Agriculture and Mobile Technology
Smallholders and global food
system
• Smallholders produce about 60% of
the world’s food
• Globally, 500 million smallholders are
directly supporting over 2b people
• Accounts for 97% of agricultural
holdings
• Smallholders are too important for the
global food system
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3. Why the Hype – Agriculture and Mobile Technology
However ……
Many smallholders:
Often operate outside the formal economy
Most produce under 2ha with yields far below potentials
Lack access to effective technical support, land, resources and technology
Are food insecure and; vulnerable to malnutrition and climate change
Have higher cost of production, productivity and low profit margins
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4. Why the Hype – Agriculture and Mobile Technology
and there are new challenges……….
Globalisation
Climate Change
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5. Enhancing Smallholder position – The 4 keys
Access to Assets – transfer and ownership of productive assets
will improve security and productivity.
Access to information - Knowledge is power; technical and
market information is a productive element of human capital in
farming. Information should be timely, relevant and accurate
Access to services - services that will facilitate agricultural
activities.
Access to remunerative markets - is necessary for promoting
growth of smallholder agriculture
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6. Why the Hype – Agriculture and Mobile Technology
The pace of the ICT sector is rapid and promising…
2020?
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8. Why the Hype – Agriculture and Mobile Technology
mAgri deployments
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9. Why the Hype – Agriculture and Mobile Technology
Digitally Inclusive Agriculture
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10. Why the Hype – Agriculture and Mobile Technology
Key Issues
• Scaling-up and sustainability
• Improving access for farmers
• Quality versus quantity
• Convergence of different services
• Experience and knowledge sharing
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