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To build a stable business, farmers need information on a wide range of subjects. But farmers don´t want all the information; they only want what´s relevant to their specific needs. To meet this demand, a few services are now providing agricultural information tailored to fit the working conditions of individual farmers.
Read more: http://ictupdate.cta.int/en/regulars/editorial/(issue)/53
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"We need to develop large, integrated networks that will connect diverse sources of information to each other, and to farmers, through ICTs." Dr. Monty Jones, executive director of the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa.
http://ictupdate.cta.int/en/regulars/perspectives/(issue)/53
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A network of community knowledge workers (CKWs) in Uganda uses a suite of mobile applications to give farmers a broad range of information. The CKWs can provide farming advice, market data, pest- and disease-control training, plus weather forecasts.
http://ictupdate.cta.int/en/Feature-Articles/Direct_data_on_demand
The Seeing is Believing project uses very high resolution satellite imagery to give farmers in West Africa information on soil fertility and accurate land size.
http://ictupdate.cta.int/en/Feature-Articles/The_view_from_above
In Chile, the Mobile Information Project takes advantage of the growing ubiquity of mobile phones to deliver agricultural information from the web directly to farmers.
http://ictupdate.cta.int/en/Feature-Articles/From_the_web_to_the_phone/a>
Nokia Life Tools delivers customized information to farmers in India and Indonesia based on their location, language and crops. The company hopes to expand the service to Africa in 2010.
http://ictupdate.cta.int/en/Feature-Articles/Customized_information
There are several services which farmers can directly access to help them to maintain their crops and get the best from their products at harvest time.
http://ictupdate.cta.int/en/regulars/techtip/(issue)/53
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"Farmers are comfortable using their phones to get market, weather and other information. A phone is easier to use than a computer, cheaper and more easily accessible." Dr Mucemi Gakuru is a senior lecturer in electrical and electronic engineering at the University of Nairobi and managing director of Teknobyte.
http://ictupdate.cta.int/en/regulars/Q-A/(issue)/53
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E-agriculture for Togolese farmers
A ´Center for Commercial and Agricultural Information´ (PICA) for the collection and the publication of price lists via the internet has been launched in Togo to enable farmers and traders to interact over prices and availability of products by ICT. The centre is equipped with computer and Internet facilities with a web page www.tradenet.biz with a strong integration of data and mobile technology. The centre will allow producers and tradesmen to consult in real time over price lists that are in conformity with the ECOWAS region.
http://www.africanews.com/site/list_messages/11140
Radio and video are key to agricultural innovation in Africa
Radio and video are key forces of agricultural innovation and transformation in Africa than usually considered, a study revealed. Two-thirds of rural women creatively applied ideas illustrated by videos demonstrating improved food processing techniques compared to 20% who attended training workshops. The study undertaken by the Africa Rice Center and Benin´s University of Abomey however finds that the power of radio and video programming is not adequately recognized and accorded due attention by Africa´s policy-makers, stifling its potential to unleash farmer innovations.
http://www.warda.org/warda/newsrel-videopower-jun09.asp
Making ICT work for food security in Africa
Africa faces a difficult challenge in meeting the main target of the first Millennium Development Goal—to halve the number of people suffering from malnutrition and hunger by 2015. Bridging the digital divide through the development and use of ICTs - such as fixed-line and mobile phones and Internet services—will not directly solve this challenge, but it can make a significant contribution.
http://www.ifpri.org/pubs/ib/ib27.pdf
Communicating Agricultural Research in Africa: The New Role of Rural Radio
This 12-page paper addresses the current role of rural radio in Africa and explores how researchers can improve communication with farmers via radio. It also discusses research relationships among civil society where media is an influential but often underestimated institutional partner.
ftp://ftp.fao.org/UPLOAD/AGRIPPA/600_EN.PDF
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This issue’s list of annotated web resources includes:
Natural Capital Project
Government officials, conservation professionals, farmers, and other land owners make decisions about how to use their land all the time. Yet, never before have any of these groups had a systematic way to demonstrate the future costs and benefits of their decisions for people and the environment. In its most ground-breaking effort, the Natural Capital Project aims to meet this challenge with InVEST, a new tool that can model and map the delivery, distribution, and economic value of life-support systems (ecosystem services), well into the future.
http://www.naturalcapitalproject.org/InVEST.html#How
Regional Strategic Analysis and Knowledge Support SystemReSAKSS is an Africa-wide network established to provide readily available analysis, data, and tools of the highest quality to promote evidence-based decision-making, improve awareness of the role of agriculture for development in Africa, fill knowledge gaps, promote dialogue, and facilitate the benchmarking and review processes associated with the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) agenda of the New Partnership for Africa´s Development (NEPAD) and African Union (AU) and other regional agricultural development initiatives in Africa.
http://www.resakss.org
E-extension for agriculture and fisheries
The electronic delivery of extension service is a network of institutions that provide a more efficient alternative to a traditional extension system for agriculture, fisheries and natural resources sectors. It maximizes the use of information and communication technology to attain a modernized agriculture and fisheries sector. It focuses on creating an electronic and interactive bridge where farmers, fishers and other stakeholders meet and transact to enhance productivity, profitability and global competitiveness.
http://www.e-extension.gov.ph
Winrock International
TWinrock matches innovative approaches in agriculture, natural resources management, clean energy, and leadership development with the unique needs of its partners. By linking local individuals and communities with new ideas and technology, Winrock is increasing long-term productivity, equity, and responsible resource management to benefit the poor and disadvantaged of the world.
http://www.winrock.org/index.asp
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E-farmer allows farmers to trade produce before making a costly trip to market
E-Farmer is the first mobile auction system that allows farmers to trade produce before making a costly and time-consuming trip to the market as well as allowing them to seek advice on weather patterns and other agricultural issues. The second makes use of high-end imaging software to analyse diseased crops and make suggestions as to how best to combat blight, especially for the widely cultivated cassava plant, currently afflicted by disease.
http://farastaff.blogspot.com/2009/07/e-farmer.html
Low-cost computing devices and initiatives for the developing world
A short inventory of known projects related to ´low cost ICT user devices for the developing world´, with special attention to the education sector. The projects and products included in this idiosyncratic list run the gamut from small research projects at universities to field-based experiments run by NGOs to commercial products from small start-ups and large multinationals. Products are in various stages of development; while most are still in the prototyping and/or beta-testing stages, some are already in the market (and some, it should be noted, have been discontinued).
http://www.infodev.org/en/Publication.107.html
Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa
AGRA is a dynamic partnership working across the African continent to help millions of small-scale farmers and their families lift themselves out of poverty and hunger. AGRA programmes develop practical solutions to significantly boost farm productivity and incomes for the poor while safeguarding the environment. AGRA advocates for policies that support its work across all key aspects of the African agricultural value chain from seeds, soil health and water to markets and agricultural education. AGRA´s Board of Directors is chaired by Kofi A Annan, former Secretary-General of the United Nations.
http://www.agra-alliance.org
SixBlue Data provides mobile technology solutions for NGOs
SixBlue Data offers experienced mobile data information solutions for global non governmental organizations (NGO) with an emphasis on usability in field environments. Data collection forms are designed and deployed for multiple mobile device platforms, such as cellphones and Personal Digital Assistants (PDA´s), in place of paper survey forms.
http://www.sixbluedata.com/index.html
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