The State of e-Agriculture Strategies in ACP
(Background Report)
Benjamin K Addom ICT4D Programme Coordinator, CTA
2013 ICT Observatory: Strengthening e-Agriculture Strategies in ACP Countries24th April 2013, Hotel Hof Wageningen
The importance of e-Agriculture (very high)
Very low interest/understanding of the need for e-Agriculture strategies (few years back)
There are e-strategy development initiatives with different names & approaches (now)
But the agricultural sector lags behind other sectors such as health, education governance (ITU, 2010)
What do we know?
Health (e-Health) Toolkit for e-Health strategies (WHO/ITU) National e-Health strategies e.g. Lithuania, Ghana
Education (e-Learning) Jordan Education Initiative
Governance (e-Government) COMESA (guideline for developing e-Government
strategies) National e-Government strategies e.g. India
What difference are these e-strategies making?
E-strategies in other sectors
Legend 1 = Awareness Creation; 2 = Visioning/Formulation; 3 = Approval; 4 = Implementation; 5 = Monitoring & Evaluation
The state of e-Agriculture strategies
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/agencie
s
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 stakeholdersLack of understanding of the potential of e-AgricultureInstitutional and political structuresRegulatory changes in the absence of formal policiesPoor collaboration between ministries of ICTs and Agriculture
Scarcity of electricity supplyPoor ICT infrastructureLow ICT literacyLack of relevant contentNon-integration of servicesLack of advisory servicesIssues of localisation of ICTsResource mobilisation
Formulation Implementation
Orientations and target areas General production system
Marketing/market research
Commodity specific e.g. cassava, fisheries
Farm health management informatics
Infrastructure and universal access
Training, capacity building, R&D
Forest and water resource management
Post-harvest & risk management
Local content
RecommendationsBe part of the the WSIS forum in May 2013
Commission a more detailed case study
Create a global level task force and national level committees
Build a national e-Agriculture policy toolkit
Create awareness
Ensure local leadership in the entire process
Factor in the why, which, how, and what questions of e-Agriculture
Thanks
Ben
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