Skip to main content

SeeingThoughtsVideo2012_WandilaSimon_Zambia

Realizing that about 55 percent of Zambia's total population and 70 percent of the poor live in rural areas, and that the majority of households rely on incomes from agriculture and agriculture related industries, growth in agriculture is expected to generate jobs and create employment opportunities for the poor. With reforms which started in the early 1990's that emphasized on diversification of the economy through promotion of agriculture development, liberalization of marketing and encouragement of private sector participation resulted in some improvements in the sector. Therefore, fostering agricultural growth and rural development is recognized as important in reducing poverty in the country. In line with these efforts various strategies have been put in place to strengthen the efforts in realising the goal of the agricultural sector being "To promote increased and sustainable agricultural productivity and competitiveness in order to ensure food security; Income generation; Creation of employment opportunities; and Reduction in poverty levels."

However, achieving this goal has been a critical path due to various factors. More so, world over, workable strategies of how best various strategies would be applied to ensure agriculture delivers are being sought.

Recognising Agricultural Extension and Rural Advisory services, and the use of ICTs in agriculture as some of the major endeavours in improving agriculture, This short documentary elaborates and demonstrate how a pilot project MAgES Kit (Mobile Agriculture Extension and Rural Advisory Services kit with its integration of ICT can make agriculture to deliver...

I am Wandila Simon Kamukwape a youth passionate about ICTs and agriculture, proudly Zambian...

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

ENSIBUUKO: BRIDGING TECH AND AG-FINANCE

  Information and Communication Technology (ICT) plays an important role in enhancing the impact and performance of agricultural production and poverty alleviation by increasing productivity through new credit and financial services. Ensibuuko , a mobile and web application that helps farmers in accessing financial services is making a huge impact in Uganda as it has enabled saving and credit associations (and other financing organisations) to handle savings and make loans to smallholder farmers. Ensibuuko  was conceived over a cup of coffee between two friends in 2010. Mr. Gerald Otim and Mr. Opio Obwangamoi David shared a similar background as they were both raised in peasant farming communities. Mr. Otim had attempted to establish a microfinance organisation for farmers, but with a lot of frustration. It is from these frustrations that he and Mr David were moved to establish Ensibuuko. The solution is targeting farmer’s welfare through Savings and Credit Cooperative Organis...

Narudi Nyumbani, but I am on a mission

NARUDI NYUMBANI, BUT I AM ON A MISSION It's 2013, I receive news about the 6th Africa Agriculture Science Week set to take place in Accra, Ghana. I really want to attend this event to learn and network. I submit my case study: " Improving access and application of information and knowledge for agriculture by transforming telecentres into agricultural knowledge hubs ," to be presented under the information and knowledge for food security in Africa, side event. My cases study is accepted and I get full sponsorship to attend and present at the one week conference. At the same time, I get support as a youth participant. I am so excited. Thanks to FARA and CTA. Simon at the 6th Africa Agriculture Science Week 2013 It turns out to be a very successful trip. I return home on South African Airways, connecting from Accra to Nairobi, to Johannesburg, then Bulawayo and finally Lusaka. Just when we are about to land, a beautiful song plays, it arouses my emotions and I cannot hol...

CTA BROADENS SUPPORT FOR YOUNG AGRI-PRENEURS THROUGH AGRIHACK INITIATIVE

  The Challenge of weak integration of ICT in agriculture Technology  plays a great role  in enhancing advisory services, knowledge exchange, data acquisition and access to market and trade in the agricultural sector. As mobile communications technology widens and  subscriptions increase at a high rate , the opportunity to leverage the role of ICTs in agriculture for improved and sustainable agricultural development becomes more possible/obvious. However, despite the tremendous possibilities that exist, technological innovations and applications are still weakly harnessed for agricultural development. Stakeholders at the national and international levels are calling for increased actions in these areas, as articulated during the  2013 ICT4Ag Conference  organised by CTA and its partners. Youth participation is critical for the development and dispersion of those innovations. Exploring youth entrepreneurship opportunities through ICT4Ag According to  IT...