status, challenges and way forward of e- agriculture strategies in … · 2013. 5. 14. · ghana...
TRANSCRIPT
Status, challenges and way forward of e-
agriculture strategies in ACP countries
Ken Lohento, ICT Programme Coordinator, CTA
Geneva 14 May 2013
Technical Centre for Agricultural and rural cooperation (CTA)
• EU – ACP joint institution, 1984, Lome Convention, based in Netherlands
• Mission aims to advance food and nutritional security
increase prosperity
encourage sound natural resource mngmt
via providing access to information and
knowledge,
facilitating policy dialogue and
strengthening the capacity of agricultural and rural development institutions and communities in ACP countries
e-agriculture
Access and delivery of strategic information and
knowledge services (extension services, market information
sytems)
Sophisticated ICT for specific data acquisition
and management (satellite, sensor, GPS, RFID, etc)
Key observations and conclusions of :
- background research on e-agriculture strategies (Nov 2012 - Jan 2013)
- E-discussion (Feb 2013)
- to prepare the ICT Observatory (24 to 26 April 2013)
by CTA - in partnership with FAO and others
• 10 working days; 173 unique contributions (17 countributions per day)
• 40 participants, from ACP, EU countries and beyond (Philippines, Vietnam, India, etc.)
• 6 key questions : identify need and issues,
Africa 62%
Caribbean 12%
Pacific 5%
EU 8%
Non ACP-EU 13%
Regions in the e-discussion
Preparatory e-discussion (Feb 2013)
2013 ICT Observatory meeting
• e-Agriculture activities are flourishing in ACP regions
• Low interest or understanding of the need for e-
Agriculture strategies (few years back only?)
• On e-strategies the agricultural sector lags behind
other sectors such as health, education governance
(ITU, 2010)
• Emerging initiatives on e-agriculture
strategies
Legend
1 = Awareness Creation; 2 = Formulation; 3 = Approval;
4 = Implementation; 5 = Monitoring & Evaluation
Stages of e-agriculture implementation in
selected countries
0
1
2
3
4
5
Stage of e-agriculture strategy implementation
Country Importance of e-
Agriculture
Experience with e-Ag.
strategy
Current status
of e-Ag.
strategy
Leading
agency/agencies
Ghana • ICT4AD policy
document 2003
• E-Agriculture
applications
• 2005 – “Ghana ICTs in
Ag. Implementation
Strategy”
• 2007/08 – Draft Report
Awaiting approval Council for Scientific and
Industrial Research
(CSIR)
Ivory
Coast
• National Information
and Communication
Infrastructure (NICI)
Plan 2000
• 2012 - National Strategy
Document for
e.Agriculture
Awaiting approval Ministry of Post,
Information Technology
and Communication, and
the Ministry of Agriculture
Rwanda • ICT4D policy
document 2000
• NICI I, II, III (2000-
2015)
• On-going consultation
for a Strategic Plan for
Agricultural
Transformation
Formulation Ministry of Agriculture and
Animal Resources
(MINAGRI) in
collaboration with other
sectors
St. Lucia • National ICT Strategy
(2010-2015)
• Regional ICT4D
Strategy (2010)
• None Awareness
creation (needed)
N/A
Fiji • Information
Technology Policy
(2001-2011)
• The 2011 National
Broadband Policy
• None Awareness
creation (needed)
N/A
Country Importance of e-
Agriculture
Experience with
e-Ag. strategy
Current status
of e-Ag.
strategy
Leading
agency/agencies
India • National ICT policy
• Policy to ensure
infrastructure
• Policy to ensure
high-speed Internet
• National
Agricultural
Informatics
Framework
Formulation The National
Informatics Center
(NIC)
Bangladesh • National ICT policy Digital Bangladesh Awareness
creation
Katalyst (private
company) &
Agriculture
Information Service
(public)
Bolivia 2002* - ICT strategy
for the agriculture
sector
Implementation IICD
Issues & Challenges
General lack of interest by
stakeholders
Lack of understanding of the
potential of e-Agriculture
Institutional and political
structures
Regulatory changes in the
absence of formal policies
Poor collaboration between
ministries of ICTs and
Agriculture
Scarcity of electricity supply
Poor ICT infrastructure
Low ICT literacy
Lack of relevant content
Non-integration of services
Lack of advisory services
Issues of localisation of
ICTs
Resource mobilisation
Formulation Implementation
STAKEHOLDERS E-AGRICULTURE STRATEGY PHASES
Formulate Implement Evaluate
Farmers Consulted Responsible Informed, Consulted
Govt. ICT Dept. Co-lead Support Informed
Govt. Agriculture Dept. Lead, Accountable Lead, Accountable Informed
Internat’l Agencies Consulted Informed, Support Informed, Support
Private Sector Consulted Support,
Responsible Informed, Consulted
Academia & Research
Institutes Consulted Support Lead, Responsible
A framework for developing e-agricutlure strategy that emerged in discussions
Key recommendations 1. Policy work needs to take less time; need to be implemented,
evaluated
2. Absence of policy should not stop practical implementation, but e-agric strategies needed as quickly as possible
3. National holistic or sub-sectoral strategies needed
4. More govmt awareness, gov continuity, leadership
5. Important role for mobile phone; radio still needed
6. MSH policies needed - (farmer, youth, PS, different gov bodies)
7. Funding : Key - International but also local
8. ICT infrastructure needed
9. Awareness raising, best-practices & knowledge sharing, capacity building needed
Ken Lohento
http://ict-observatory.cta.int