A new generation of information and communication technologies (ICTs) is finding a small foothold among poor, small-scale farmers in developing countries. Even so, many barriers still prevent poor rural people from accessing, using, and benefiting from new ICT tools and platforms, and those barriers are arguably higher for rural women. The relationship between gender and agriculture has been studied intensively over the years, and many agricultural interventions now include gender as a crosscutting issue or mainstream gender throughout their operations.
L’accroissement de la productivité et de la durabilité de l’agriculture dépend dans une large mesure de la participation des jeunes au secteur, en mettant à profit leur énergie et leurs innovations. Cette publication, conduite par le projet ARDYIS (Agriculture, Développement Rural et Jeunesse dans la Société de l’Information) du CTA, en collaboration avec Ashoka, démontre la façon dont cela peut être atteint. Celle-ci présente 20 initiatives entrepreneuriales dans le domaine des TIC créées par de jeunes innovateurs d’Afrique et des Caraïbes.
El presente documento es elaborado en el marco del diseño de una Agenda de Extensión Rural Latinoamericana que contribuya a un desarrollo inclusivo. En esta etapa la Red Latinoamericana y del Caribe para Servicios de Extensión Rural, constituida en Noviembre del 2010, ha priorizado el trabajo en 4 temas relevantes siendo “La Extensión como parte de un sistema de innovación”, uno de ellos.
Los cambios acontecidos en la agricultura cubana a finales del siglo XX provocaron la ruptura del paradigma basado en la dependencia de importaciones, por lo que se precisó comenzar a construir un nuevo modelo técnico-económico sobre la base del desarrollo endógeno, asociado al fomento de capacidades innovadoras y de tecnologías sostenibles; ello exigió que los centros de desarrollo de conocimiento se centraran en la aplicación de innovaciones, mediante adecuados procesos de extensión rural.
La documentación de casos de éxito refiere una labor con satisfactores paralelos. Por una parte, la constatación inmediata de la correcta aplicación de la metodología y los recursos humanos y materiales destinados al Proyecto Estratégico de Seguridad Alimentaria (PESA) en México. Por otra parte, ser testigos de cómo los beneficios se reflejan en los productores, en las familias, en las comunidades y en las regiones.
"CDAIS is interesting for us because it is improving how we operate”, explains Francisco Venda, president of the Sementes do Planalto seed cooperative based in Bailundo. “We work with many partners, and the new skills have proved invaluable.” Since 2016, CDAIS has been working with this group, helping them to identify and agree their priority needs, and take steps to overcoming them. But much is yet to be done, though the high levels of energy and enthusiasm will ensure that progress will continue long after the project has ended.
To ensure food security, farmers must have access to quality seed, in adequate quantities. The government of Ethiopia acknowledges this, and has responded by investing in improving the seed sector. However, as this example shows, not all challenges can be overcome by technical training and new technologies alone. A large seed cooperative union was faced with a problem that seriously affected their very existence. And the solution was not technical.
Sur la base de 16 études de cas, nous cherchons à comprendre comment l'usage des technologies de l'information et de la communication (TIC) transforme les dispositifs de conseil agricole au Burkina Faso. Si les outils employés et les thématiques du conseil sont diversifiés, les services demeurent récents et inaboutis. Les prestataires de conseil cherchent en effet à améliorer les outils et services, dont la durabilité n'est pas encore garantie. Ceci s'explique notamment par la complexité du travail inter-organisationnel pour développer ces services.
E‐KOKARI is an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) platform, developed in Niger, which enables farmers, breeders and buyers to access information, advice, warnings and market prices in the field of agriculture and livestock. When a user dials a short number from his phone he can access a voice menu in the main local languages (French, Hausa and Zarma) of the country, which guides him/her according to his/her needs. A prototype was developed and tested during a period of 10 months in the course of 2017, but the practice still needs to be implemented and evaluated in the field.
The Government of Burkina Faso embraced innovation in agriculture many years ago, thus CDAIS could build on solid foundations. Six innovation niche partnerships were selected, each working on very different types of innovations, technically, socially or organisationally, and facing contrasting challenges for capacity development.