Practical Insights on ICT4Ag

What is ICT4Ag?

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.

USAID Practitioners Toolkit: Interactive Radio for Agricultural Development Projects

USAID Practitioners Toolkit: Interactive Radio for Agricultural Development Projects

Published on: Nov 16 2012 by Josh Woodard - Comments Off on USAID Practitioners Toolkit: Interactive Radio for Agricultural Development Projects
For decades now, radio has been a dominant source of information for farmers in much of sub-Saharan Africa. Although the reach of radio varies from country to country,...
Key Takeaways from the World Bank’s 2012 Maximizing Mobile Report

Key Takeaways from the World Bank’s 2012 Maximizing Mobile Report

Published on: Sep 26 2012 by Tim Katlic - Comments Off on Key Takeaways from the World Bank’s 2012 Maximizing Mobile Report
As of 2012, nearly three-quarters of the world’s population has access to a mobile phone. Soon it will be common knowledge that the developing world is more dependent...
8 Lessons Learned to Improve ICT-enabled FM Radio Station Sustainability

8 Lessons Learned to Improve ICT-enabled FM Radio Station Sustainability

Published on: Aug 27 2012 by Wayan Vota - 1 Comment
Recently, the African Farm Radio Research Initiative sought to test the effectiveness of a new radio campaign model developed by Farm Radio International: the participatory...
The Bi-Weekly ICT4D Retrospective: Important Links for May 9 – May 22, 2012

The Bi-Weekly ICT4D Retrospective: Important Links for May 9 – May 22, 2012

Published on: May 22 2012 by Sabina Behague - Comments Off on The Bi-Weekly ICT4D Retrospective: Important Links for May 9 – May 22, 2012
Agriculture and Food Security in Africa: After watching USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah on the PBS NewsHour discuss the goal of lifting 50 million Africans out of...
FM Radio is mAgriculture to Small-Scale African Farmers

FM Radio is mAgriculture to Small-Scale African Farmers

Published on: Feb 17 2012 by Wayan Vota - 2 Comments
I am a big fan of FM radio. From my days at IESC Geekcorps, I saw how this “old” technology was still impressive in its reach, cost-effectiveness,...
ICT: Changing the Face of Agriculture

ICT: Changing the Face of Agriculture

Published on: Oct 12 2011 by Tyrone Hall - 3 Comments
The mere mention of agriculture conjures, for many, outmoded images of a backbreaking industry. It’s an image that holds true in some places where few farmers...
ICTworks Profile of Esoko: Bringing the Market to Africa’s Fingertips

ICTworks Profile of Esoko: Bringing the Market to Africa’s Fingertips

Published on: Oct 04 2011 by Tsega Belachew - 1 Comment
It was a normal day by Accra standards. I walked out of the house ready to make my way to the center of town for an interview with a homegrown tech company; Esoko....
iPads in Rural Agriculture: Glitz Toys or ICT4Ag Business Tool?

iPads in Rural Agriculture: Glitz Toys or ICT4Ag Business Tool?

Published on: Sep 28 2011 by Tyrone Hall - Comments Off on iPads in Rural Agriculture: Glitz Toys or ICT4Ag Business Tool?
This month’s Technology Salon ICT4Ag – Enriching rural coffee farmers via iPads raised a couple of eyebrows from the outset. How can Exprima Media and...
Mobile Computing in 1960s Taiwan: A Personal History of ICT in Economic Development

Mobile Computing in 1960s Taiwan: A Personal History of ICT in Economic Development

Published on: Sep 16 2011 by Guest Writer - Comments Off on Mobile Computing in 1960s Taiwan: A Personal History of ICT in Economic Development
I am Alice Liu and I was working in the technology sector in California when I became interested in international development. I made the transition in 2005 and...
Two Questions on the Sustainability of Grameen’s Android App for Farmers

Two Questions on the Sustainability of Grameen’s Android App for Farmers

Published on: Sep 14 2011 by Tyrone Hall - 6 Comments
The Grameen Foundation Center launched a comprehensive Android phone-based project for Ugandan smallholder farmers recently, that could significantly improve farming...