why the hype - agriculture & mobile technology
DESCRIPTION
Presentation by Michael Nkonu, Agriculture Programme Specialist for the mAgri Programme, GSMA Plenary Session: Why the Hype for mAgriculture? on 5 Nov 2013, ICT4Ag, Kigali, RwandaTRANSCRIPT
Restricted - Confidential Information © GSMA 2013
Why the Hype - Agriculture & Mobile Technology
Michael Nkonu (Agriculture Specialist November, 2013
Why the Hype – Agriculture and Mobile Technology
Restricted - Confidential Information © GSMA 2013
• Smallholders produce about 60% of the world’s food
• Globally, 500 million smallholders are directly supporting over 2b people
• Accounts for 97% of agricultural holdings
• Smallholders are too important for the global food system
Why the Hype – Agriculture and Mobile Technology
Smallholders and global food system
Restricted - Confidential Information © GSMA 2013
However ……
Many smallholders:Often operate outside the formal economy
Most produce under 2ha with yields far below potentials
Lack access to effective technical support, land, resources and technology
Are food insecure and; vulnerable to malnutrition and climate change
Have higher cost of production, productivity and low profit margins
Why the Hype – Agriculture and Mobile Technology
Restricted - Confidential Information © GSMA 2013
Why the Hype – Agriculture and Mobile Technology
and there are new challenges……….
Globalisation Climate Change
Restricted - Confidential Information © GSMA 2013
Enhancing Smallholder position – The 4 keys
Access to Assets – transfer and ownership of productive assets will improve security and productivity.
Access to information - Knowledge is power; technical and market information is a productive element of human capital in farming. Information should be timely, relevant and accurate
Access to services - services that will facilitate agricultural activities.
Access to remunerative markets - is necessary for promoting growth of smallholder agriculture
Restricted - Confidential Information © GSMA 2013
The pace of the ICT sector is rapid and promising…
Why the Hype – Agriculture and Mobile Technology
2020?
Restricted - Confidential Information © GSMA 2013
Restricted - Confidential Information © GSMA 2013
mAgri deployments
Why the Hype – Agriculture and Mobile Technology
Restricted - Confidential Information © GSMA 2013
Digitally Inclusive Agriculture
Why the Hype – Agriculture and Mobile Technology
Restricted - Confidential Information © GSMA 2013
Key Issues
• Scaling-up and sustainability
• Improving access for farmers
• Quality versus quantity
• Convergence of different services
• Experience and knowledge sharing
Why the Hype – Agriculture and Mobile Technology
Restricted - Confidential Information © GSMA 2013