by Tom Price, Independent Writer for ICT4D Conference Humans have been farming the African landscape for thousands of years, and not a great deal has changed over the many centuries. The slow rhythms of the agricultural seasons are what really drive this continent with more than 60 percent of the population working on the land. But change is afoot. Digital technology is introducing remarkable innovations to agriculture through accessible mechanization, improving farmers resilience to shocks like floods, and identifying land improvements. The mechanical power of the tractor revolutionized...
SciDevNet opines that the use of ICT tools is helping smallholders access farm inputs and increase yields. The article reviews a project in Uganda that is using ICTs to empower smallholder farmers. The situation : A major problem that has been confronting the two Ugandan smallholders – who epitomise the struggles of many in Sub-Saharan Africa – is the lack of adequate information on best farming practices such as when and how to plant that could lead to increased productively, more income from their produce and better livelihoods. But a project in Uganda that uses information and...
The International Centre for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA), has launched the Call for Applications for the first edition of its Arab Women Leaders in Agriculture, Awla Fellowship . The Call is open to Arab women researchers from the MENA region, with a strong and demonstrable interest in national, international and global agricultural challenges. The theme of the first Awla Fellowship being " The role of women in agriculture prosperity ". Candidates must be able to present professional and academic credentials in the field of agriculture. Watch the video about the call below The Call for...
The 3rd African Youth Agripreneur Forum (AYAF) Conference and AgriPitch Competition will be held in Cape town, South Africa from 24th – 28th June 2019 under the theme: “ Climate Smart Agriculture: Business and Employment Opportunities for Africa’s Youth ”. This year the AYAF will be held in...
The Technologies and Practices for Small Agricultural Producers (TECA) is an online platform that gathers successful agricultural technologies and practices to facilitate knowledge exchange and help family farmers in the field. Recently TECA has launched the first moderated discussion on the topic of Agricultural Mechanization and is done between FAO AGPM and the Young Professionals in Agriculture and Rural Development (YPARD). The online discussion will be held from the 3rd to the 15th of April 2019 and is addressing the question, “ Can mechanization drive youth into agriculture in Sub-...
FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia has launched a call on digital innovations for agriculture in that region. The call aims at collecting lessons learned and recommendations for the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) or digital innovations in the sectors of agriculture, livestock, fisheries, forestry or rural development. Selected innovations will be disseminated on online platforms, social media and will be part of an online FAO publication on the use of digital technologies for agriculture in Europe and Central Asia. Topic The innovations you wish to...
In sub-Saharan Africa and indeed in most of the developing world, women form a greater part of the agricultural labour force. There is potential of information and communications technologies (ICTs) to include women fully in the agricultural systems. The recent ICT Update 90 focuses on Women and Digitization in Agriculture and chronicles the work that The Technical Centre for Agriculture and Rural Cooperation (CTA) has done within the African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP). The interventions deal with CTA’s contribution to rural economies, the growing advancements in digitization and lessening...
The International Award “ Innovative Ideas and Technologies in Agribusiness ” is organized by UNIDO ITPO Italy in collaboration with the Future Food Institute . The international contest is aimed at identifying worldwide the most innovative ideas in the foodtech & agtech sectors from startups, think tanks, universities, incubators, research and technology centers, that could lead to social, environmental and economic improvements in Developing Countries. Applications must be received by 31st March 2019, at the following link: https://www.unido.it/award2019 The award ceremony will be held...
By Günther Feiler , Capacity Development Officer, FAO Rome, and Thomas Muenzel , Investment Support Officer, FAO Bangkok ( The article was originally published by the ICTworks and we reproduce for our community. All rights acknowledged) Experience has shown that substantial public investments in agricultural production, transport and storage infrastructure, combined with private on-farm investment are essential for promoting pro-poor economic growth, bringing people out of poverty and ending food insecurity and malnutrition. The FAO State of Food and Agriculture Report in 2012 found that the...
EFITA or European Federation for Information Technology in Agriculture, Food and the Environment is biennial conference that facilitates participants from over 25 countries focusing on knowledge sharing and thinking on the future of ICT technologies within the agri-food and bio-resource sectors...
The 3rd African Youth Agripreneur Forum (AYAF) Conference and AgriPitch Competition will be held in Cape town, South Africa from 24th – 28th June 2019 under the theme: “ Climate Smart Agriculture: Business and Employment Opportunities for Africa’s Youth ”. This year the AYAF will be held in...
EFITA or European Federation for Information Technology in Agriculture, Food and the Environment is biennial conference that facilitates participants from over 25 countries focusing on knowledge sharing and thinking on the future of ICT technologies within the agri-food and bio-resource sectors...