What is ICT4Ag?
ICT4Ag is using information and communication technology (ICT) in agricultural development programs. ICT4Agriculture programs aim to increase food security by helping smallholder farmers improve their use of modern agritech farming methods and their access to markets. These Agritech solutions encompass the full agricultural value chain and includes adjacent technologies like digital financial services and geographic information systems.
ICT4Ag solutions in the development sector help countries achieve the Sustainable Development goals. Solutions often focus on agriculture extension services for farmers to learn about agriculture technologies and innovation. ICTs can amplify the efforts of the extension agents who work directly with farmers across the entire value chain from planing what crops to grow, to sourcing inputs for crop cultivation, to selling it in the market.
Why is ICT4Ag Important?
Smallholder farmers have limited resources and often live in underserved and remote areas. They have limited knowledge, services, and technologies available to them, and typically need support to adopt modern farming methodologies. Agricultural extension services are usually inadequate , with less than one extension agent per 1000 farmers .
Climate change is now impacting more farmers, particularly the most vulnerable, so there is greater need for reaching farmers with information and services that can improve their food security. ICT4Ag can play a crucial role in supporting farmers to access new inputs, credit, and markets with personalized and customized services.
Examples of ICT4Ag in Food Security Programs
The potential to achieve high impact at the farm-level requires appropriate technology and adoption methodologies. Please find below an ever-increasing list of successful ICT4Ag solutions.
4 Tips on How to Engage Farmers Using Communication Technologies
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Why Agriculture Traceability Matters to Companies, Consumers and Communities
Traceability is the key to buyer confidence and transparent relationships with smallholders to achieve global food security. During June’s ICTforAg conference,...
3 Ways to Improve Farmer Information Systems
Farmer Information Systems have found solid footing in development, and are now fine-tuning their strategy and approach in communicating market prices, weather...
3 Ways to Build Successful Partnerships with Mobile Network Operators
It can seem obvious, but mobile network operators (MNOs) are businesses that, at the end of the day, are motivated by their need to generate revenue. Yet a relationship...
The Future is Here with Sensors and Geospatial Analytics in International Development
Electronic sensors, tiny circuits that detect and monitor the characteristics of their environment, have seen a geometric improvement in the past five years. Sensors...
Facilitated Video is the Most Effective Agricultural Teaching Tool
Traditional agricultural extension methods rely on highly trained experts who go out into the field to interact directly with farmers. Given the nearly 700 million...
You Are Invited to Participate and Present at ICTforAg on June 3rd
ICTforAg: New Technologies for Smallholder Farmer Value Chains is a 1-day conference that will bring together +150 thought leaders and decision makers in agriculture...
USAID Assessment of Market Information Systems in Africa
This Assessment of Market Information Systems in Africa briefing paper presents the results of an assessment carried out to explore the current use of sustainable...
Every Single Presentation from CRS’ 5th ICT4D Conference Now Available Online
In March of this year Catholic Relief Services held it’s fifth ICT4D conference, looking to explore how ICT is being applied in development situations. The event...
Can Crowdsourcing Stop the Fall Armyworm Invasion?
The Zambian Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock recently announced that they are experiencing an outbreak of maize-eating fall armyworm in some parts of the country....
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