Inventory of Innovative Farmer Advisory Services using ICTs
Dec 23 2008, Ghana [GH], Burkina Faso [BF], Tanzania [TZ], Uganda [UG], Mali [ML], Zambia [ZM], Livelihood opportunities
Currently, most farmers’ information is provided either by extension workers, through libraries or via websites. The number of extension workers has been going down while that of farmers has been growing hence the need for innovative information systems to address this gap.
This inventory is prepared in December 2008 for The Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) by Mucemi Gakuru, Kristen Winters and Francois Stepman. It is an attempt to document all known innovative farmer advisory services or systems, currently in design, in existence or recently completed in Africa. Entries include projects using ICT solutions or implementing ICT-based activities, institutions/groups providing services using ICTs as well as ICT solutions software providers, both at the national and regional level. While many of the entries are projects with a definitive beginning and end date providing one or two services, others are national or regional information systems providing many agricultural services using ICTs.
The following IICD supported projects are included in the inventory:
Burkina Faso
- Miproka (Maison d'Information et de Promotion du Karité) p. 47 (project on IICD website >>)
- Sissili Vala Kori: Improvement of agriculture related information channels to farmers in the rural area Sissili p. 50 (project on IICD website >>)
- TV Koodo: Market price information system using web and national television p. 46 (project on IICD website >>)
Ghana
- Eastern Corridor Agro-market Information Centre (ECAMIC) p.38 (project on IICD website >>)
- E-commerce for Non-traditional Exports p. 39 (project on IICD website >>)
- Ghana Agricultural Information network System (GAINS) p. 41 (project on IICD website >>)
- ICT Support for Rural Agricultural Literacy p. 42 (project on IICD website >>)
- Market Information Service Facility and Training p. 47 (project on IICD website >>)
Mali
- Fruiléma p. 41 (project on IICD website >>)
- ICT for Shea Butter Producers p. 42 (project on IICD website >>)
- Information Network in Mandé p. 45 (project on IICD website >>)
- Jekafo Gelekan: Rural Information System for Farmers in the Sikasso Region p. 45 (project on IICD website >>)
- Sene Kunafoni Bulon p. 49 (project on IICD website >>)
Tanzania
- CROMABU (Crops Marketing Bureau) Project p37 (project on IICD website >>)
Uganda
Agriculture Research and Rural Information Network (ARRIN) Ndere
Troupe p. 35 (project on IICD
website >>)
Rural Information System (RIS) p. 48 (project on IICD website >>)
Zambia
- Integrating ICT for Quality Assurance and Marketing p. 46 (project on IICD website >>)
- Strengthening the Agriculture Information Flow and Dissemination System p. 51 (project on IICD website >>)
This inventory is focused on projects/services that provide agricultural training and information to farmers directly, through the use of ICTs, rather than documenting services that facilitate exchange of information among researchers and policymakers. It also does not include the many research initiatives that exist to study the possible application of ICTs to agriculture or organizations or projects that focus on the development of linkages with input agencies, credit organizations and markets through the use of ICTs.
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