1. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY FOR AGRICULTURE SYNERGY

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. Current Achievements
Central Africa Farmers Network ( trough GSM Technology )with more than 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

9. 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.

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