eTransform Africa: ICT and Agriculture

Deloitte.

Transformation-ReadyStrategic Application of ICT in Africa: AGRICULTURE

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Transformation-Ready: The Strategic Application of ICTs in Africa

Impact of ICTs in Agriculture

June 2011

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PROJECT APPROACH

INCEPTION

LANDSCAPE ANALYSIS

AFRICA SCAN & CASE STUDIES

RECOMMENDATIONS

Country Specific Sectoral, Socio-Economic, ICT Strategic Plans International Agreements and Covenants, Regional Agreements Country Specific Laws, Policies and ICT Strategies

INCEPTION REPORT

LANDSCAPE ANALYSIS REPORT

AFRICA SCAN AND CASE STUDY REPORTS

RECOMMENDATIONS & FINAL REPORT

Foundational Programmes and Policies

Stages of the Assignment

Time (in Months)

Streams or Tracks of the Assignment

Deliverables of the Assignment

Aligned Aligned Aligned Aligned

SECTOR DEVELOPMENT

SECTOR MANAGEMENT

INTER-SECTORAL COLLABORATION

Submitted Submitted Submitted Underway

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STAKEHOLDERS

eAgriculture Platform

eAgric

ultu

re P

latfo

rm

B2F

F2B

G2R

R2G

R2B

B2R

G2F

F2G

FARMERS• All farmers, livestock breeders and allied practitioners;• All organised association of these stakeholders; and• All unorganised association of these stakeholders.

GOVERNMENT• The relevant Ministry of Agriculture• The Departments and other functional units under the Ministry;

and• Parastatal entities working under the aegis of the Ministry and

pursuing their respective mandates

RESEARCHERS• Researchers, or those who are pursuing research;• Educators, or those who are in the business of providing sector

education to sector practitioners; and• Trainers, or those whose work it is to provide training to people

to improve their employability.

BUSINESSES • Businesses, including Agri-Extension service providers, Agri-Input

providers, food processing industries, market operators;• Associations, or organised associations of business entities that

raise advocacy concerns for business organisations; and• Other organisations, such as donors, regional associations.

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FRAMEWORK



B2F

F2B

G2R

R2G

R2B

B2R

G2F

F2G

B2F• Communication of Reqmts• Prevailing Prices• New Products’ Information• Competitive Positioning to

Farmers• Quality Requirements

F2B• Crop Forecast• Communication of Extension

Reqmts (loan, fertilizer, fish feed, net, subsidy etc)

• Virtual Markets• Direct Sale

R2F• Problems faced etc• Communication -Mkt

Intelligence• New Products and Markets• New genetic varieties,

fertilizers, soil treatment, post/pre-harvest technology

F2R• Requests for information on

possible effects and treatment, markets

• New Skilling & Re-skilling• Reqmt of Educational

Interventions

G2F• Communication

of Schemes, subsidies, loan processing etc

• Extension of eServices

• Early Warning and Weather forecasts

• Any Bilateral supports

• One-Stop Shop

F2G• Requests for

Information• Crop Forecasts• Extension and

Support Requirements

• Skilling and Re-skilling requirements

• Advocacy Concerns

G2R• Schemes, subsidies for

research promotion• Thrust Areas• Provision of government data• Linkages to stakeholders• One-Stop Shop

R2G• Communication of Findings• Recommendations for Thrust

Areas• Market Intelligence and

Scientific Research Reports• Support reqmts for Research

B2R• Requests for

research findings

• Guiding education and research

• Increasing employability

• Provision of internship and in-house training

R2B• Communicati

on -MktIntelligence

• Products and Markets

• Research findings

• Skill forecasts and availability

B2G• Application for Licenses• Advocacy Concerns• Support reqmts for new

markets and products• Participation- policy planning

G2B• Schemes/subsidy, focus areas• Extension of eServices• New markets and products for

support and incentives• Tax Holidays, Economic Zones

LEGENDF: FarmerR: ResearcherG: GovernmentB: Business

THE COMPLETE INFORMATION REQUIREMENT LANDSCAPEFigure 2 The Inter-Stakeholder Inform

ation Requirement Landscape

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FRAMEWORK

Information Systems including DSS/MIS/GIS etc

ICT-enabled Learning and Knowledge Exchange

Modelling Solutions

Sensory and Proximity Devices

ICT-enabled Networking Solutions

Online Commerce Tools (eCommerce/ mCommerce)

ICT THROUGH THE CROPPING CYCLE- THE NEEDS OF THE FARMER

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• Land Title Deeds• Market Information and Trends

(Technical, Financial, etc)• Crop Suitability for Land-Soil Testing etc• Knowledge of Existing Service Providers• Business Planning Support • Licenses and Subsidies (where relevant)• Queries and Replies• Sill Requirement and Training

B2F/F2BService Provider Rates (Seeds, Fertilizer, HYV, Irrigation, Implements), Application for Credits, Soil Testing

Crop Forecast by feeding planting information, Online order placement and delivery, online payment systems

One stop shops, Quality Certification services, Loan repayment, online commerce and payment systems, Scheduling Delivery

G2F/F2GSchemes, Support Prices Information, Procedures, Title Registration Information, Credit Facilities

Crop Forecast by feeding planting information, Water management inputs, Credit related services

Loan repayment services, Storage services request, Feedback into system

R2F/F2R Market Trends, Crop Suitability for Land, Questions and Answers

Question and Answer services related to agricultural operations

Any Research information required, Feedback into the system

Research Literature isolated /not availableTitle deeds not computerisedPoor linkages with Service ProvidersService providers isolated & not networked

Online platforms do not existSupply side information is missingAppropriate channels and platforms

Online platforms do not existSupply side information is missingAppropriate channels and platformsNot adequately regulated- trust factor

ACCESS- Availability of power, connectivity, bandwidth; Affordability of Devices, Universal Access facilitiesCAPABILITY-Literacy, Numeracy, ICT LiteracyCONTENT-Content, ApplicationsPOLICY-Integration of ICT into Sector Strategies, Integration of Agriculture into country eStrategiesWILLINGNESS-low confidence and trust on ICT, low awareness

• Early Warning and Weather Systems• Timely provision of Agricultural Inputs/

Services/ Credit• Connectivity with markets for

implements• Water Management from providers• Online commerce and payment systems• Queries and Replies• Feedback into the market systems

• Bi-directional exchange of information• Procurement prices at various POSs• Quality Certification Requests• Price Discovery at Farms• Online Commerce and Payment Systems• Transportation and Packaging Service

Provider Inputs• Access to Storage Facilities• Feedback into the market systems

eChoupal VoiKiosks, DrumNet, Wizzit/M-Pesa Esoko (Ghana)

Crop & Land Selection

Calendar Definition

Access to Credit

Land Preparation

& Sowing

Input Management

Crop Harvest

Marketing and

PackagingTransport Sale and

Repayment

PRE-CULTIVATION CROP CULTIVATION & HARVESTING POST HARVEST

Case Studies

Prob

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s an

d Ch

alle

nges

Info

rmati

on a

nd

Serv

ice

Requ

irem

ents

Stages and Sub-

Stages

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CASE STUDY-ECHOUPAL

The Problem

INPUT CONSTRAINTS• Farmers did not have access to (a) quality inputs, such as sowing seeds, herbicides, and

pesticides, or (b) information, such as accurate weather reports, that would help them improve their crop quality as well as the process of bringing it to market.

• They did not reap financial benefits from any profits made off the valuable soybean-derived materials.

• Losing 60-70% of the potential value of their crop, with agricultural yields only a third to a quarter of global standards.

OUTPUT CONSTRAINTS• Middlemen clogged the supply chain, reducing profit margins for both farmers and buyers. • Unfair practices affected the way the farmers were paid, weighing of produce, and the

time taken by the process. This increased transaction costs, slashing potential profits for the farmer.

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Walking Distance

Walking Distance

Driving Distance

Information Dissemination aCommodity Exchange/Payment XFarmer Advisory Network a

Hardware• A PC (Windows/Intel), multimedia• Connection lines, telephone or VSAT• Power supply (UPS and solar-powered

battery)• A dot-matrix printer

Software• eChoupal portal application

Functionality/Feature• All kinds of information (weather, inputs,

prices, trends etc)• Special deal• Local language + Facilitators• Advisory- Q/A features• News• Value-added: Quality Certification• Transparency- Price Discovery

AT THE VILLAGE

AT NEARBY TOWN- POINT OF SALE

Village Elder Farmer

Business Entity

Functionality/Feature• Computerized weighing of the

produce• Sale at the Discovered Price• Value Added features like soil

testing etc• Restroom facilities

CASE STUDY-ECHOUPAL

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OTHER CASE STUDIES

Case Study Brief Details

Farmer Advisory and Networking System through VoiceSites

• Has overcome problems of connectivity and literacy and exploited fast expanding mobile penetration rates

• Users can build their own VoiceSites• IVR Plus- Response to any question within four hours

DrumNet-ICT to bring together stakeholders in Kenya

• Integrated Information, Credit/Financial• Use of SMS• Win-Win deal for everyone

Agricultural Commodity Exchange Index on Esoko in Ghana

• Mobile updates for farmers and traders delivered by SMS that include market prices and buy/sell offers,

• Bulk SMS functionality, • Websites for small businesses and associations, and • SMS polling technology

Basic Banking Services To The Unbanked And Under-banked People In South Africa- Wizzit

• Using the fact that there are several times more mobile phone subscribers than are banking customers

• Customers can deposit at any Post Office branch• Transacted through Unstructured Supplementary Services Data on GSM phones• WizzKids to expand customer base

65%

Processors

Exporters

Large Retailers

Institutions

Processors

Exporters

Large Retailers

Institutions

DrumNet Platform

9% 23% 3%

Rural Assemblers

Transporter Rural Brokers

Market & Other Fee

Urban BrokersSMALLHOLDER

FARMER

Finance

86%SMALLHOLDER

FARMER

Transporter

9%

Market & Other Fee

5%

Finance

PRE-DRUMNET

POST-DRUMNET

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BEST PRACTICES/RECOMMENDATIONS

REGULATORY• Integrate ICT into Agriculture Sector Strategies and Agriculture into National eStrategies• Have Partnership Frameworks/ MoUs agreed upon between participants in any eAgriculture venture• Draft Operating Manuals on how any eAgriculture venture will run and disseminate this information to all

concerned• Align eAgriculture ventures with existing governmental schemes in operation• Make all ventures as self-sustaining as is possible; explore the possibility of supporting this by Universal Service

Fund• Lobby for governments to provide support to eAgriculture ventures

ACCESS• Provide the right mix of Universal Access and Universal Service features to expand access• Exploit the fact that mobile penetration rates are growing much faster than PC and there is already a very high

penetration of Radios and TVs• Exploit economies of scale to bring down the per capita expenditure on ICT at the community level (telecentre),

national level (collaboration horizontally and vertically), and across countries (regional level networks to minimise international network requirements)

• Use low power and solar-powered devices

CONTENT• At the minimum provide market information prices, weather forecasts, transport facilities, information on storage

facilities and information related to crop and livestock diseases and general advice related to agriculture• Depending on the context, affordability and capability use the most judicious mix of text (SMS), voice, video to

provide information to farmers• Use the most judicious mix of channels and devices – Radio, Television, Mobile Phones, Computers, Fixed Line and

Print Media

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• Bi-directional flow of information and content building on Agriculture and related areas• Undertake an Information and Services Needs Assessment before designing content

TRUST AND CONFIDENCE• Involve all participants right from the planning stage of the initiative to its implementation• All underlying partnerships must be on a Win-Win basis for the initiative to sustain• Embark on awareness and sensitisation missions to spread the efficacy of ICT

CAPABILITY• Use ICT channels and devices to provide education and training (Literacy, Numeracy, ICT Literacy, Specific

Applications)• Integrate ICT into Agriculture education systems• Empower communities through development of core skills

BEST PRACTICES/RECOMMENDATIONS

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GUIDELINES FOR DONORS

CHECKLIST FOR DONORS

• Involve communities as stakeholders not beneficiaries• A robust ICT infrastructure with redundancy is a must• Empower communities through development of core skills• Ensure the right partnerships are in place before taking initiatives forward• Use existing infrastructure wherever possible to cushion cost pressures• Target ideas with a low gestation period• Identify skills conducive for remote ICT-enabled training delivery• Relentlessly explore revenue streams to ensure sustainability• Select the problem that impacts the greatest number of people• Collaboration with government initiative improves scalability/ sustainability• Large NGO's offer an opportunity to scale up geographically• Content at community and software production at educational institutes• Explore collaboration with training certifying bodies for better acceptability• Strong Financial Incentives for the Service Provider• Exit Strategies should be in place

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ANGOLA GHANATelephone lines (%) 0.6 Agricultural land (%) 68.6Mobile Pen. (%) 49.6 Agriculture in GDP (%) 32

Fixed Internet (%) 0.1 Arable land (ha per person) 0.20

PC Penetration %) 1.1 Irrigated land (%) --Internet users (%) 4.3 Permanent Cropland (%) 12.50Population covered by mobile (%) 73 Rural Population (%) 49

Initiatives• ICT for Accelerated Development (ICT4AD) – A policy

represents the vision of Ghana in the information age and addresses 14 priority focus areas including "Modernizing agriculture and developing an agro-business industry"

• CocoaLink - Connecting Cocoa Communities- To use mobile technology to connect cocoa farmers with useful information about improving farming practices, farm safety, child labor, health, crop disease prevention, post-harvest production and crop marketing.

• Market Access Promotion Network (MAPRONET)-3 basic business information centres where farmers can access market information and other relevant agricultural information.

• Esoko - Live market feeds, Direct SMS Marketing, Online Profiling and Marketing

Telephone lines (%) 0.6 Agricultural land (%) 46.3Mobile Pen. (%) 37.6 Agriculture in GDP (%) 10


PC Penetration %) 0.6 Irrigated land (%) --Internet users (%) 3.1 Permanent Cropland (%) 0.20Population covered by mobile (%) 40 Rural Population (%) 43.3

Initiatives• ANGONET - A computer communication service provided

by Development Workshop (DW). This initiative is for the organisations and individuals working for social and economic development and humanitarian assistance programs in Angola.

• SDN-Angola - An initiative taken for the exchange of information between regional and international organisations involved on environment and sustainable development areas.

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BOTSWANA EGYPTTelephone lines (%) 14.6 Agricultural land (%) 3.6Mobile Pen. (%) 50.6 Agriculture in GDP (%) 14


PC Penetration %) 3.9 Irrigated land (%) --Internet users (%) 16.6 Permanent Cropland (%) O.8Population covered by mobile (%) 95 Rural Population (%) 57

Initiatives• Free Internet and Broadband - A joint effort of MCIT and

Telecom Egypt. The initiative offers subscription-free Internet services to users via dial-up to special-prefix numbers

• PCs for Community – Evolved from the PC for Every Home project to increase PC usage and to attain the level of penetration to reach one PC per every three families.

• The VERCON Project - Aimed at addressing the needs of small-scale Egyptian farmers through information exchange between agricultural research and extension and indirectly the farmers themselves.

• Rural and Agricultural Development Communication Network (RADCON) - Participatory communication and harnessing the potential of ICT to strengthen communication among the stakeholders in agricultural and rural development




Initiatives• Kitsong Centers - The Rural Telecommunications

Programme targets provision of essential infrastructure services in rural areas. The services include Internet lines, and telephones, and Community Access Centers (CAC).

• Community User Information System (CUIS) - To develop a computer network system to provide e-mail and on-line information in rural areas with collection, processing and distribution of locally generated information.

• Question and Answer Service - To provide information services and products to researcher, extension works and rural producers in Africa.

• Livestock Identification Trace-back System (LITS) - System introduced to enable Botswana to comply with new regulatory procedures required by the European Union, which accounts for 80 to 90% of Botswana’s beef exports.

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ETHIOPIA KENYATelephone lines (%) 0.6 Agricultural land (%) 47.6Mobile Pen. (%) 42.1 Agriculture in GDP (%) 23


PC Penetration %) 1.4 Irrigated land (%) --Internet users (%) 8.7 Permanent Cropland (%) O.9Population covered by mobile (%) 83 Rural Population (%) 78

Initiatives• M-Pesa - Kenya is the first country in the world to use

mobile phones for cash-transfers through a service called M-Pesa developed by Safaricom Limited.

• Ushahidi and Swift River: Crowdsourcing innovationso Ushahidi - To help citizen and journalists to gather

reports of violence in the contested election.o Enter Swift River - To use machine algorithms and

crowdsourcing to verify incoming stream of information.• Kenya Agricultural Commodities Exchange (KACE) MIS

Project - KACE collects, processes, updates and disseminates market information daily to farmers and other market intermediaries through the MIS.

• Farmer Helplines – A call centre to find answers to the farmer’s questions.

• Rural telecentres - Updated content on weather forecasts and relevant commodity prices on markets.



PC Penetration %) 0.7 Irrigated land (%) 0.5Internet users (%) 0.4 Permanent Cropland (%) 0.0Population covered by mobile (%) 10 Rural Population (%) 83

Initiatives• WoredaNet Initiative - WoredaNet is a terrestrial and

satellite-based network designed with the objective to provide ICT services such as video conferencing, directory, messaging and VoIP and Internet connectivity to the Federal, Regional and Woreda level government entities.

• Livestock Information Network and Knowledge System (LINKS) - Livestock marketing information system that is geared towards addressing the needs for timely and reliable livestock marketing information for producers, traders and policy makers in the livestock subsector.

• roving Agricultural Productivity and Market Success of Ethiopian Farmers (IMPS) - Contribute to improved agricultural productivity and production through market‐oriented agricultural development . It is focusing on the smallholder rural population of Ethiopia

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SUDAN SENEGALTelephone lines (%) 1.9 Agricultural land (%) --Mobile Pen. (%) 44.1 Agriculture in GDP (%) --

Fixed Internet (%) 0.4 Arable land (ha per person) --

PC Penetration %) 2.2 Irrigated land (%) --Internet users (%) 8.4 Permanent Cropland (%) --Population covered by mobile (%) 85 Rural Population (%) --

Initiatives• Senegal’s Trade Facilitation Solution (ORBUS) - The

ORBUS System has been powered to facilitate foreign trade formalities through electronic exchanges among different stakeholders. Built on a technological infrastructure and a set of services, ORBUS has led to a significant reduction of the pre-clearance time and formalities-related costs, an improved quality of the service offered to clients, and the almost elimination of paperwork.

• Manobi-Up to date Information with WAP-enabled Cellphones and Short Messaging Service for Fishing and Farming Communities, Senegal - An initiative to use basic cellphones with wireless access protocol (WAP) and short messaging service (SMS) technology to provide members of Senegalese fishing communities and fruit and vegetable grower farming communities with up-to-date weather and market price information.

Telephone lines (%) 0.9 Agricultural land (%) 58.1Mobile Pen. (%) 29 Agriculture in GDP (%) 30


PC Penetration %) 10.7 Irrigated land (%) 1.3Internet users (%) 10.2 Permanent Cropland (%) 0.10Population covered by mobile (%) 66 Rural Population (%) 56

Initiatives• Multi-Purpose Community Learning Centers (MCLCs) -

MCLCs are local centers that provide lifelong learning opportunities to empower local communities in villages, slums, and poor urban areas. MCLCs provide education combined with skills and training for income-generating activities leading to improving the quality of life of poor people. Several MCLCs have been set up in Lebanon, Syria, Palestinian Camps, Egypt, Sudan, Morocco, and Yemen.

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SOMALIA RWANDATelephone lines (%) 0.2 Agricultural land (%) -Mobile Pen. (%) 13.6 Agriculture in GDP (%) --

Fixed Internet (%) 0.1 Arable land (ha per person) --

PC Penetration %) 0.3 Irrigated land (%) --Internet users (%) 3.1 Permanent Cropland (%) --Population covered by mobile (%) 92 Rural Population (%) --

Initiatives• ICT for improving agriculture in Rwanda - The aim of the

project is to introduce ICT in the agricultural extension in Rwanda in such a way that all the involved actors in agriculture will be able to make the right decisions about relevant projects and come up with the best possible solutions in the field of agriculture.

• e-Soko portal – A part of the e-Rwanda initiative . It is a World Bank funded ICT project being implemented by RITA (Rwanda Information Technology Authority) and is intended to mitigate against current information gap for farmers with the use of ICTs.

Telephone lines (%) 1.1 Agricultural land (%) 70.2Mobile Pen. (%) 7.0 Agriculture in GDP (%) --


PC Penetration %) 0.9 Irrigated land (%) --Internet users (%) 1.1 Permanent Cropland (%) 0.0Population covered by mobile (%) -- Rural Population (%) 63

Initiatives• Kubere Information Centre (KIC) - A multi-dimensional

information centre offering Agricultural information. The main objective of this centre is to enhance and improve access to agricultural information to and from rural women farmers using a variety of information and communication technologies (ICTs).

• Livestock Information Network and Knowledge System (LINKS) - Livestock marketing information system that is geared towards addressing the needs for timely and reliable livestock marketing information for producers, traders and policy makers in the livestock subsector.

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MOROCCO TANZANIATelephone lines (%) 0.3 Agricultural land (%) 39.5Mobile Pen. (%) 30.6 Agriculture in GDP (%) 29


PC Penetration %) 0.9 Irrigated land (%) 15Internet users (%) 1.2 Permanent Cropland (%) 1.5Population covered by mobile (%) 65 Rural Population (%) 74

Initiatives• ICT4RD - Provides ICT access to the rural Tanzania through

unutilized infrastructures. It is built around three key pillars of Technology, Entrepreneurship and Usage.

• Agricultural Sector Development Programme (ASDP) - To enable stakeholders in the agricultural sector including ministries, local government authorities, processors, marketers and farmers to communicate better and more effectively through mobiles and computers linked to wide area networks (WAN) AND Internet.

• CROMABU – To empower small scale farmers economically by enhancing access to price information and insights in trade flows.

• Family Alliance for Development and Cooperation (FADECO) - Started with a rural library which provided information resources and then started its own newsletter called WAZA) and information notice boards‐



PC Penetration %) 5.7 Irrigated land (%) --Internet users (%) 33 Permanent Cropland (%) 2.10Population covered by mobile (%) 98 Rural Population (%) 44

Initiatives• Internet in rural Morocco - Although the main focus is on

women, the effects of ICTs will be considered for both sexes. This initiative provides Morocco woman information on agriculture farming and market prices.

• Agriculture deal with Algeria – To acquire highly efficient agricultural practices necessitated by the scarcity of land suitable for crop cultivation.

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UGANDA ZAMBIATelephone lines (%) 0.7 Agricultural land (%) 30.1Mobile Pen. (%) 28 Agriculture in GDP (%) 22



Initiatives• The Chipata District Women’s - The association provides

support to women in learning new skills, improving their capacity to earn more income and live healthier lives.

• Zambian Commodity Exchange (ZAMACE) - ZAMACE is owned and self-regulated by the agricultural industry stakeholders. Agricultural commodity exchanges bring more formality to trading methods, enhancing market transparency and increase the quantity and quality of commodities traded, for the benefit of the agricultural sector and the economy as a whole.

• SMS Information Service - a cross border SMS market ‐information service that provides farmers and traders in Zambia and the Katanga province of the Congo with daily information on stock availability, market prices and sales trends that is also supported by its website.

• Farmers’ Internet Café - established by the Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) to link the ZNFU with affiliates at district level while at the same time providing access to information to individual union members.

Telephone lines (%) 0.5 Agricultural land (%) 66Mobile Pen. (%) 27 Agriculture in GDP (%) 25



Initiatives• The Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET) - A place to

share news, information and activities on female-related issues in Uganda. WOUGNET’s goal is to promote the use of ICTs by women’s organizations and individuals for the better being of Ugandan women.

• FOODNET – Launched for post-harvest and market research network for East and Central Africa. Additionally it implements, backstops and collaborates on many other post-harvest and marketing information projects and programmes.

• Farmers' Friend - An Applab initiative primarily to fulfill the information needs of farmer community.

• Google Trader - Project facilitated to break the limitation of inefficient transport network and knowledge of market conditions to the small producers.

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CASE STUDY :LIVESTOCK TRACKING AND TRACEABILITY IN NAMIBIA

• Summary of initial findings

• Opportunities

• Challenges

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THE INTRODUCTION OF ANIMAL TRACKING AND TRACEABILITY IS A PRACTICAL REALITY IN AFRICA

Namibia is an excellent example of what can be done in terms of creating a sustainable and practical tracking and traceability system in a Country. Through a systematic and well planned approach they were able to implement a traceability system that conforms to world standards and created a competitive edge for the countries livestock industry. The success of the system can be ascribed to the following:

• Use of traditional identification systems (branding) in conjunction with new technology (RFID) to create reliable and rugged identification

• Identification and the active involvement of all role players in the planning and implementation process

• Use of all possible communication methodologies in order to reach, inform update all parties

• Active training of relevant parties in the use of the technology, administration of the system and vesting a culture of participation and problem solving

• Creating the legislative, institutional and infrastructural environment in which the system can operate

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• Taking cognisance of the traditional systems and cultures within the industry and using these as a tool to implementation and operation

• Use of a technical support team on a contractual basis for a specified time duration to assist in initial roll out

• Veterinary Services which are staffed by extremely well trained professionals which are backed up by a trained cadre of para - veterinarians and animal health workers

• Highly qualified technical personnel in the Veterinary Laboratories

• Historical close cooperation that exists between the Veterinary Services and other stakeholders such as The Meat Board of Namibia, Namibia Agricultural Union and producers

• The existence of a strong Governmental support network in terms of the Namibian Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry extension services

• Government support – technical/funding as well as donor funding through the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) Namibia Compact

• A free market system of supply and demand in an environment that is conducive to foreign investment.

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Opportunities in Africa

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OPPORTUNITIES IN AFRICA CONTINUED

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Opportunities

As illustrated in the previous slide, almost fifty percent of Africa is suited for mixed and animal farming. This means that a vast untapped resource exists for the production of animal feed and animal protein. We view it as extremely important that these resources be developed as a practical solution to African and International Food Security. This development is crucial for economic and social improvement and will achieve the following:

• Creation of value chains which will lead to value adding to primary staple foods as well as by products

• Foreign Direct Investment in terms of infrastructure, plant and equipment

• Creation of new export markets and growth in the agricultural sector as a major contributor to GDP

• The ability to initiate new projects with the correct use of ICT at start up which can also be used to improve management practices (skills improvement)

• Productive use of resources which has up to this stage only been marginally utilised

• General improvement of animal production efficiencies and the application of Good Agriculture

• Creation of a basis for sustainable and viable projects in Africa.

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CHALLENGES IN AFRICA

Challenges to the successful implementation of traceability and tracking systems in Africa

The most important hurdle in Africa is the willingness of Governments to actively support agriculture and to create an environment that is attractive to foreign investors. The correct legislation as well as the application of the law is lacking. Market systems are also characterised by different degrees of Government control and taxation structures are as a rule fairly prohibitive. Support services to agriculture is lacking and the actual effectiveness of extension services is sometimes suspect. Other challenges that needs to be addressed are:

• The traditional pastoral system of livestock farming where no movement control exists

• Absence of any form of traceability system

• Cross border incursions needs to be curbed. Currently examples exist where border wars are fought over cattle and grazing rights

• Total lack of infrastructure such as animal handling facilities, extension offices, equipment and vehicles

• No clear demarcation of disease control areas

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• Lack of capacity in terms of trained Government officials (extension services) as well as Veterinary staff

• Under developed markets and lack of supply / value chain activities

• Re active and not pro active veterinary services

• Lack of market information and insufficient trader credit

• Lack of Government support in terms of Legislation and funding

• Issues that has been cited as reasons for failure in the implementation of traceability systems are human and capital limitations

• Farmer illiteracy and perceived intrusion by systems which are not deemed confidential.

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CASE STUDY : EGYPT -THE ROLE OF ICT IN IRRIGATION

• Summary

• Opportunities

• Challenges

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THE USE OF ICT IN IRRIGATION

Irrigation farming is one of the key solutions to food security in the world. The challenge is to design systems which are water efficient with optimal production per unit through a system of multi cropping.The challenge is to design robust systems which is able to supply real time feedback in terms of the operational efficiency in order to make adjustments as required on a daily basis for optimum efficiency. Design of successful irrigation projects are subject to the following basic requirements:

• High resolution imagery (VHRI) of land via satellite where computer software is utilized to enhance the image of potential projects regarding variations of soil fertility, land size and shape and contours which could assist with farming ventures

• Information from across the country on soil types, topography, water resources, current land use, and socio-economic factors and data on each criterion utilizing GIS

• Use of soil moisture sensors (tensiometers) as a management tool to determine water requirements of crops

• Creating the legislative, institutional and infrastructural environment in which the system can operate with specific reference to water usage

• The use of a extended project approach so as to reach individual farmers. Cognisance should be taken of the fact that many farmers are in actual fact women

• Use of a technical support team on a contractual basis for a specified time duration to assist in initial roll out. The establishment of training centers for farmers as well as government officials is a pre requisite

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THE USE OF ICT IN IRRIGATION CONTINUES• Establishment of the following facilities on a

project basis

• Weather station linked to a central management office with dissemination of information via SMS or radio

• Laboratories for analyses of soil, leaf and water samples

• Clinic for the local project participants

• Highly qualified technical personnel to staff laboratories

• The existence of a strong Governmental support network in terms of extension services.

• Government support – technical/funding as well as donor funding to ensure the viability and sustainability of projects

• A free market system of supply and demand in an environment that is conducive to foreign investment.

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OPPORTUNITIES IN IRRIGATIONAs for Africa, huge opportunities exist as most of the great lakes in East Africa is under utilized. The advantage of the potential irrigable areas in Africa are that they are quite similar in terms of clay percentage to the Egyptian soils and therefore subject to the same management practises.

The establishment of projects similar to that which are found along the Nile is practical as development will also have to take place along irrigation cannels where whole communities can be included in projects.

The planning of projects based on Egyptian systems will ensure the long term viability as salination on heavy soils will definitely be a long term risk in Africa. Potential to quadruple yields and gross income is very possible as Africa’s utilisation of available water resources is minimal.

Through proper design of irrigation projects, water efficiency can be optimised with the result that a larger number of hectare’s can be irrigated as would normally be the case. Creation of value chains which will lead to value adding to primary staple foods and export opportunities after the issue of food security has been addressed.

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Foreign Direct Investment in terms of infrastructure, plant and equipment which will be crucial for the development of integrated irrigation systems

Contrary to popular belief, irrigation will still be required even in areas of high rainfall, as it stabilises water supply and production. It also serves as a major risk mitigant in times of drought which is becoming more prevalent throughout Africa, due to the effects of global warming.

Irrigation also enables the production of crops and products which are in high demand but could otherwise not be cultivated under rain fed conditions

Deloitte.


CHALLENGES TO THE SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF ICT IN IRRIGATION SYSTEMS IN AFRICAThe most important hurdle in Africa is the willingness of Governments to actively support agriculture and to create an environment that is attractive to foreign investors. The correct legislation as well as the application of the law is lacking. Market systems are also characterised by different degrees of Government control and taxation structures are as a rule fairly prohibitive. Support services to agriculture is lacking and the actual effectiveness of extension services is sometimes suspect. Other challenges that needs to be addressed are:

• The traditional cropping systems where little or no irrigation is done due to absence of infrastructure

• Lack of capacity in terms of trained Government officials (extension services)

• Lack of infrastructure in terms of pumping stations, irrigation cannels, fair water distribution mechanisms

• Unclear land tenure, property and water rights

• Under developed markets and lack of supply / value chain activities

• Lack of market information and insufficient trader credit

• Lack of Government commitment and support in terms of Legislation and funding

• Farmer illiteracy and lack of experience in commercial irrigation venture.

Deloitte.


QUESTIONS?

eTransform Africa: ICT and Agriculture

Technology

b information

market information prices

kinds of information

agriculture sector strategies

universal service features

crop quality

right mix of universal

sector practitioners