Originally written on Wednesday, 21 June 2017 In ICT Update and on websites as ICT4D, CTA has covered the explosive growth and proliferation of digital and mobile phone technologies for agriculture. Now CTA takes the next step with developing the Apps4Ag database, a comprehensive, up-to-date and responsive database of ICTs including mobile, web, animation, audio,…
Alternative extension models vs. ICT enabled systems
Originally written on Thursday, 8 June 2017 There is no doubt that agricultural extension and advisory services (EAS) have been going through a tumultuous crisis over the past years. But, from my over 25 years of experience as a farmer, agricultural extension practitioner, and ICT for development specialist, I have come to believe ICTs are…
Building the ICT infrastructure of MUIIS for SMS delivery
Originally written on Wednesday, 21 December 2016 The development of MUIIS technology suite involves a team of technology, communication, data, agronomy and extension experts working together to create a package of bundled services enabled by ICTs. The bundled information services (agronomic, weather and insurance) will be delivered to targeted customers through different delivery channels. SMS…
The web: a thing of the past, or here to stay?
Originally written on Saturday, 1 August 2015 How relevant and useful are web tools for ICT4Ag today? Are they on their way out, or on the contrary, is the web a nucleus from which other channels spread? Is the web still a relevant environment for communicating agricultural information to users? Or is it doomed to…
Making it happen
Originally written on Monday, 2 December 2013 The ICT4Ag conference held in Rwanda in November 2013 was unique in that it brought together a highly representative body of delegates from the ICT and agricultural sectors. The CTA-sponsored ICT4ag conference held on 4–8 November 2013 in Kigali, Rwanda had several objectives, but the conference heading –…
A living database for ICT4Ag
Originally written on Sunday, 1 December 2013 Ben Addom, coordinator of the ‘Emerging innovations’ stream, talks about the effort to create a ‘living database’ of ICT4Ag solutions. In your article in the last issue of ICT Update you mentioned that we need to coordinate efforts to monitor the impact of applications since there are so…
Emerging innovations in ICTs
Originally written on Tuesday, 1 October 2013 The conference will help to address the ‘inclusive’ component of ICT4Ag, or the idea that no one will be left out. It is imperative that emerging innovations support rather than exclude stakeholders in the agricultural sector. A vast number of ICT solutions have emerged in recent years that…
A living database for ICT4Ag
Originally written on Sunday, 15 February 2015 In your article in the last issue of ICT Update you mentioned that we need to coordinate efforts to monitor the impact of applications since there are so many of them. Have there been any positive signs during your stream sessions that this may be accomplished? Yes, this…
Revolutionising finance for agricultural value chains
Originally written on Tuesday 22 April 2014 Lamon Rutten and Benjamin Addom discuss the far-reaching changes that are needed to revolutionise finance for agri-value chains. The Oxford English Dictionary’s first definition of ‘revolution’ is ‘a Unking farmers forcible overthrow of a government or social order, in favour of a new system’. When discussing how to change…
CTA expertise informs concept for new International Digital Council for Food and Agriculture
Originally written on Thursday, 12 March 2020 Extensive consultation with CTA and other stakeholders has resulted in a concept note for the establishment of a new International Digital Council for Food and Agriculture. Once operationalised, the Digital Council will advise governments and other relevant actors with the aim of realising the immense potential of digitalisation…
Digitalisation and Smallholder Agriculture 