Practical Insights on ICT4Ag

What is ICT4Ag?

What is ICT4Ag?

ICT4Ag is using information and communication technology (ICT) in agricultural development programs. ICT4Agriculture programs aim to increase food security by helping smallholder farmers improve their use of modern agritech farming methods and their access to markets. These Agritech solutions encompass the full agricultural value chain and includes adjacent technologies like digital financial services and geographic information systems.

ICT4Ag solutions in the development sector help countries achieve the Sustainable Development goals. Solutions often focus on agriculture extension services for farmers to learn about agriculture technologies and innovation. ICTs can amplify the efforts of the extension agents who work directly with farmers across the entire value chain from planing what crops to grow, to sourcing inputs for crop cultivation, to selling it in the market.

Why is ICT4Ag Important?

Smallholder farmers have limited resources and often live in underserved and remote areas. They have limited knowledge, services, and technologies available to them, and typically need support to adopt modern farming methodologies. Agricultural extension services are usually inadequate , with less than one extension agent per 1000 farmers .

Climate change is now impacting more farmers, particularly the most vulnerable, so there is greater need for reaching farmers with information and services that can improve their food security. ICT4Ag can play a crucial role in supporting farmers to access new inputs, credit, and markets with personalized and customized services.

Examples of ICT4Ag in Food Security Programs

The potential to achieve high impact at the farm-level requires appropriate technology and adoption methodologies. Please find below an ever-increasing list of successful ICT4Ag solutions.

Apply Now! $2 Million for Smallholder Farmer AgriTech Solutions

Apply Now! $2 Million for Smallholder Farmer AgriTech Solutions

Published on: Nov 29 2021 by Wayan Vota - 10 Comments
Agriculture is by far the most important economic activity in Africa, employing about two-thirds of the continent’s working population. Yet agricultural productivity...
Apply Now: $17,000 Agriculture Satellite Data Machine Learning Challenge

Apply Now: $17,000 Agriculture Satellite Data Machine Learning Challenge

Published on: Aug 09 2021 by Wayan Vota - 5 Comments
The agricultural sector makes a substantial contribution to GDP and livelihoods across the developing world. However, regular and reliable agricultural data remains...
Apply Now: €2.7 Million West African Digital Agriculture Innovations Grants

Apply Now: €2.7 Million West African Digital Agriculture Innovations Grants

Published on: Jun 21 2021 by Wayan Vota - 11 Comments
West African countries face key climate change challenges, including sustainable use and management of biodiversity, and responsible production and consumption...
Apply Now: $300,000 for USAID Digital Agriculture Ecosystem Assessments

Apply Now: $300,000 for USAID Digital Agriculture Ecosystem Assessments

Published on: May 19 2021 by Wayan Vota - 13 Comments
Digital agriculture solutions for weather-based insurance, pest diagnostic, agronomic advice, and crop monitoring can revolutionize yields and income for smallholder...
How Smallholder Farmers Can Use Soil Map Data for Higher Productivity

How Smallholder Farmers Can Use Soil Map Data for Higher Productivity

Published on: Apr 14 2021 by Guest Writer - 2 Comments
Average cocoa yields in Ghana by smallholder farmers are currently 400 kg/ha, far below their production potential of over 1,500 kg/ha. Dominant factors contributing...
5 Ways to Get Women to Use Your AgriTech Application Innovation

5 Ways to Get Women to Use Your AgriTech Application Innovation

Published on: Mar 11 2021 by Guest Writer - 5 Comments
While being a part of ICTforAg was a great chance to reconnect and learn, it is amazing to me that we need to have conversations about the need to engage female...
11 AgriTech Findings From West African Smallholder Farmers

11 AgriTech Findings From West African Smallholder Farmers

Published on: Feb 03 2021 by Guest Writer - 6 Comments
The public ICT4Ag discussion is often focused on the use of smartphones and sophisticated applications. This often neglects more traditional channels and can unfairly...
Apply Now: $1.5 Million Smart Agriculture Grants from Gates Foundation

Apply Now: $1.5 Million Smart Agriculture Grants from Gates Foundation

Published on: Feb 01 2021 by Wayan Vota - 14 Comments
Smallholder farmers suffer from fundamental challenges to improving their own food security and their communities nutritional resilience. They face low agriculture...
Applying Game-Based Learning During COVID-19 Digital Response

Applying Game-Based Learning During COVID-19 Digital Response

Published on: Jan 28 2021 by Guest Writer - 1 Comment
Game-based learning using serious computer games has a huge potential to overcome challenges faced by teachers and trainers in low-income countries. Not only does...
Apply Now: $30,000 Funding for Your Asia AgriTech Solution

Apply Now: $30,000 Funding for Your Asia AgriTech Solution

Published on: Dec 21 2020 by Wayan Vota - 10 Comments
COVID-19 has disrupted the agriculture value chain at every level. The measures taken to contain the spread of the virus have stressed entire food systems. Today,...
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