Introductory and welcome remarks to the ICTs in Sustainable Crop Production Intensification (SCPI) on horticulture crop based systems

Welcome everybody, to this global discussion on the role of ICTs in ‘Sustainable Crop Production Intensification’ (SCPI) with a particular focus on horticulture crop based systems (mainly fruits, vegetables, roots and tubers).

In the next three weeks, we are looking forward to exciting discussions – at the beginning of each week a guiding discussion question (setting the theme) will be posted on the forum and you are free to reply with your contributions.

As an icebreaker, it has long been understood that information and communication technologies (ICTs) play a vital role in agricultural production. However, within the horticulture crop based systems the application and use of ICTs is limited and less understood.

Many stakeholders within agricultural sector have highlighted the importance of ICTs in sustainably increasing agricultural productivity and facilitating access to agricultural information and services by marginalized groups (mainly women, girls and the youth) and poor communities.

At the recently held G20 Ministers meeting, the Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) remarked “ICTs can have a profound impact on the efficiency, resilience, and inclusion of poor family famers”, (Graziano da Silva -January, 2017).

The ability of ICTs to bring refreshed momentum to agriculture appears even more compelling in light of rising investments in agricultural research, the private sector’s strong interest in the development and spread of ICTs, and the upsurge of organizations committed to the agricultural development agenda; in the holistic achievement of UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Against this background, there has been a lot of efforts by FAO, the UN Agencies and the broader developmental partners to apply various ICT solutions to the development agenda. These efforts have been haphazardly reported and applied globally also within agriculture – the commonly known application of ICTs is in information dissemination and awareness raising through, mobile phones, radio, TV, video, etc.; to the latest technologies on sustainable crop production, which has been reportedly acknowledged for increasing productivity, for example leading towards precision farming and other climate smart farming practices.

With this in mind, I would like to invite members to share and exchange practical experiences in the use of ICTs and emerging technologies in sustainable intensification of horticulture crop based systems. We are looking forward to a fruitful discussion!

Participate in the Week 1 Question :From your understanding and experiences, what is the role of ICTs in sustainable intensification of horticulture crop based systems for both the smallholder and commercial farmers