Improving Agricultural Productivity and Climate Change Resilience Using the LandInfo Mobile App Technology

Dr. Nicholas Ozor

Executive DirectorAfrican Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS)

Presented during the Gender-Sensitive Climate Smart Agriculture in Eastern Africa2-4 November 2016, Fairview Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya

ATPS’ Climate Sense Program (CSP)

• The CSP is designed to create a common platform for Africa to be able to translate complex climate change issues in ways that promote dialogue at all levels of African society and globally.

• It is geared towards providing coordinated evidence-based strategy for climate-proofing development programmes and policies including Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) in African countries.

ATPS seek to promote CSP through:

1. Making Sense of Climate Science through science communication.

2. Making Sense of Climate Economics through policy analysis.

3. Making Sense of Climate Innovation through Investment Portfolio Analysis and Innovation Incubation Programs, e.g. The LandInfo Technology.

4. Making Sense of Climate Change Policies through scenarios analysis and training programs.

What is LandInfo Technology?

LandInfo is a mobile app connected to cloud-based analytics and user-accessible cloud storage that allows users access, share, use, and interpret global knowledge and information relevant to the unique potential of each piece of land.

SUPPORTExtension

(Government, NGO, ODA, Consultants)

SUPPORTFarmers andPastoralists

TARGET Grazing

managementCrop inputsBiodiversity

conservation, Restoration,

Land Use Planning & Management

Subsidy/Incentives (Gov, NGO, ODA)

INFORMLand Use Planning

andLand Tenure

Programs (Government)

Global Local

Knowledge

Global Scientific

Knowledge

Geospatial Information

LandInfo

Land-Potential Knowledge System(LandPKS)

Contact: Jeff Herrick (USDA) jherrick@nmsu.edu

CONNECTFarmers and

Pastoralists with Each Other based on Common Land Potential & Challenges

5

Alternative livelihoods and agricultural intensification example

6

100m

Why LandPKS?•Soil maps : too coarse •Digital soil maps: never 100% perfect prediction•Provide a way to store/integrate/share relevant knowledge + info•Inadequate Extension Agents

Mobile Application:

Inputs location and

site data

LandPKS Server

Geospatial Data

Simulation Models

Databases

Outputs to User via Mobile Application

Sample Climate Results from LandInfo

IITA, Nigeria ILRI, Ethiopia

Sample Climate Results from LandInfo

Silver Springs, Nairobi Kenya Cairo, Egypt

Key Results from the LandInfo Crop Productivity/Erosion Vulnerability

Key Results from the LandInfo Technology Grass Productivity/Erosion vulnerability

Benefits/ImpactSocial benefits: gender-friendly and inclusive; reduces rural-urban migration; shares information about similar soils from other parts of the world hence encouraging knowledge sharing

Economic benefits: Increases agricultural yield and hence income of the farmers; Development agencies and policymakers will be able to aggregate data across larger areas without losing key pieces of information, such as the presence of small, highly productive, biodiverse, or vulnerable sites within a region; Could be used to support the work of extension agents who are very few to match farmers’ needs

Environmental benefits: Information provided by the app can be used for climate change adaptation and mitigation planning; the technology has zero emission to the atmosphere; supports erosion control, land restoration, biodiversity conservation, and natural resource management

What can LandInfo do for Practitioners?Farmers, Pastoralists, Rangeland Managers, Extension Agents, Rural Development planners, etc.

– Generates accurate, robust, and timely information and knowledge of land potential

– Supports effective decision making on agricultural development and land management strategies

– Provides a way to store, integrate, & share relevant knowledge & information

What can LandInfo do for Practitioners?Farmers, Pastoralists, Rangeland Managers, Extension Agents, Rural Development planners, etc.

– allows individuals and organizations to use a mobile phone to determine land potential at a specific location based on local and global knowledge and information

– connects producers with each other; directly support land management decisions by farmers, ranchers, and pastoralists

– Improves cooperation among extension and communities

What can LandInfo do for Practitioners?Farmers, Pastoralists, Rangeland Managers, Extension Agents, Rural Development planners, etc.

– Connects people living in areas of similar land types and similar land potential so that sustainable land management practices are shared

What can LandInfo do for Policymakers?

Policymakers at local, national and regional levels, including ministries, regional and sub-regional bodies, etc.

– Provides information that enables policymakers make informed decisions for agricultural development and land use planning, e.g. Community Mapping Initiative, Land Policy Initiative (UNECA & AUC)

– Provides information that is necessary for budgetary allocation

What can LandInfo do for Policymakers?

Policymakers at local, national and regional levels, including ministries, regional and sub-regional bodies, etc.

– Provides information that is necessary for human resource management e.g. extension agent distribution, capacity building, etc.

– Informs land planning and investments in land management by governments, non-governmental and ODA organizations

Assessment of LandInfo Adoption (Funded by CTA)

Variables on LandInfo Adoption levels by pilot CountriesKenya Namibia

Age of respondents Males/Females (21-40) Males/Females (21-40)Type of production Mainly pasture for

LivestockMainly crop production

Knowledge of landInfo use

Knowledgeable (79%) Knowledgeable (78.6%)

Level of satisfaction with LandInfo App use

Very satisfied (80%) Satisfied to a very great extent (82%)

Impact of LandInfo App on farm land management and land use decision making

Impactful (74%) Impactful (72%)

What is the business case for LandInfo technology?

• Sub-Saharan Africa is the 2nd-largest mobile technology market after Asia and the fastest growing one, GSMA forecasts the region's mobile users will reach 346 million by 2017

• Nearly two-thirds (65%) of households in 23 countries in sub-Saharan Africa had at least one mobile phone in 2013

• In Kenya, mobile phone and internet penetration stands at 77.2% and 63% respectively now enhancing an E-extension programme as farmers make a large number

How can LandInfo be promoted using Policy and Policy Frameworks?

Mainstreaming LandPKS into local, national and Regional Agric. and Land Development Initiatives, eg UNECA

Budgetary allocation for facilities & capacity building of personnel, e.g. Ext Agents and Farmers

Integrating LandPKS into the Curricula of Higher Education in Africa

Integrating LandPKS into local, national and regional Development Policies on Agric., Land & Environment

Target Policy Bodies•Ministries•Council of Governors•African Union Commission•UNECA•Other Pan-African Organizations

• Work Package 1: Sensitization of stakeholders and dissemination of the LandInfo app across Africa

• Work Package 2: Capacity Building of stakeholders to effectively use the LandInfo app (Farmer cooperatives, Extension agents, and Land use planners)

• Work Package 3: Policy analysis and advocacy for LandInfo mainstreaming in national and regional agricultural transformation initiatives

Request for Supports and Collaborations: Upscaling and Out scaling of LandInfo Mobile Technology

Download the New Apps

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Search on the names in the Google Play Store or use the links at http://landpotential.org/landpks/app

Our Partners

Sameer Africa: Usage, habits and attitude report for the Tyre category

Thank You

nozor@atpsnet.org