Summary of e-discussions on e-agriculture strategies by Ken Lohento

1. ICT Observatory 2013
Strengthening e-
agriculture strategies in
ACP countries
Ken Lohento, ICT Programme Coordinator, CTA
Wageningen
24 -26 April, 2013

3. 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

4. • 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

5. Key observations
Need : 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

6. • 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

7. • 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

8. STAKEHOLDERS E-AGRICULTURE STRATEGY PHASES
Formulate Implement Evaluate
Farmers Consulted Responsible Informed, Consulted
Govt. ICT Dept. Co-lead Support Informed
Govt. Agriculture Dept. Lead, AccountableLead, Accountable Informed
Internat’l Agencies Consulted Informed, Support Informed, Support
Private Sector Consulted
Support,
Responsible
Informed, Consulted
Academia & Research
Institutes
Consulted Support Lead, Responsible
A framework for developing e-agricutlure strategy that emerged in discussions

9. Key recommendations
1. Policy work needs to take less time; need to be implemented,
evaluated
2. Practical implementation should continue
3. Within agric, national holistic or sub-sectoral approaches
needed
4. Baseline studies and knowledge sharing needed
5. More govmt awareness, continuity, leadership
6. Important role for mobile ph; radio still needed
7. MSH policies needed - (farmer, youth, PS, different gov
bodies)
8. Funding : Key - International but also local
9. Awareness raising / Capacity building for ICT 4 Ag,