INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY FOR AGRICULTURE SYNERGY

Information and communication have always mattered in agriculture Information and communication have always mattered in agriculture. Ever since people have grown crops, raised livestock, and caught fish, they have sought information from one another. What is the most effective planting strategy on steep slopes? Where can I buy the improved seed or feed this year? How can I acquire a land title? Who is paying the highest price at the market? How can I participate in the government’s credit program? Producers rarely find it easy to obtain answers to such questions, even if similar ones arise season after season. Farmers in a village may have planted the “same” crop for centuries, but over time, weather patterns and soil conditions change and epidemics of pests and diseases come and go. Updated information allows the farmers to cope with and even benefit from these changes. Providing such knowledge can be challenging, however, because the highly localized nature of agriculture means that information must be tailored specifically to distinct conditions. iTAS (Information technology for agriculture synergy) is a social network where the flow of products, knowledge and information between smallholder farmers groups, research institutions and consumers can be found; it is a place where they can draw upon their ‎social capital in order to strengthen their position within the agricultural value chain.

Goal Eradicate poverty and ensure food security through ICT ( by providing a networking among farmers group, agricultural research institution and consumers Build a strong bridge between ICT4Ag application developers,  agricultural research institutions and smallholder farmers  by the dissemination of ICT4Ag application Provide the analytic support on  the impact of ICT4Ag application in  farmers group Reduce 50% of agriculture operational Budget

Drivers iTAS is designed to meet the following development challenges: Increasing absolute and relative poverty in many countries Degradation of natural resources such as soil, water, flora, and-fauna Low involvement of women and youth in health, agriculture, and other development programs Poor health and education facilities in rural areas Lack of stable and quantity of food production Lack of good-quality agricultural inputs, Lack of  good-quality soil, and a functioning and productive climate; Prevent agricultural research duplication in the same farmers group Improve the dissemination of technology provided by agricultural researchers to develop this sector

Fit within Agricultural value chain and ICTD Market Nutrition control CLIEP FARMERS IPs ICT4AG Apps CLIEP HT Agricultural Input - Airtel DRC - CTA - N=NFG ICT4AG N=N Legume choice IYA Information and knowledge exchange LCFG SARD-SC Market Information YouthAg. O. CCPC Funders & Lenders Gender Situation

But how do we this Identify the principal users or groups though different call ? contact with ICT and agriculture stakeholders Create a network among ICT4Ag stakeholders, smallholder farmers and agricultural research institutions where the information, knowledge, market opportunities can be shared Capacity building on ICT Tools Dissemination of technology Monitoring and evaluation

Outcomes Reduce the duplication of ICT4Ag application Increase incomes of farmers Promote the empowerment of both rural women and youth Provide real time Nutritional Control Quick and positive Agricultural Value Chain transformation

Current Achievements Central Africa Farmers Network ( trough GSM Technology )with more than 10000 active members since September 2015 Involve Airtel DRC in Agricultural for development. Airtel is working closely with IKYA (IITA Kalambo youth agripreneur) on digital marketing, and the online selling of IITA youth Agripreneurs products Farmers training on web24dev, in partnership with CTA. Looking forward for more

NEXT STEPS Support and where possible advise ( on application built for Agriculture. E.g market information system , etc) Extend ITAS the others African countries Work with you to find better ways that can help achieve ICT4Ag results in a more effective way within acceptable means, etc.

www.itas.iita.org Thank You Mireille N’simire