Increasing investment in digital technology for rural farmers can have far-reaching benefits, writes Thapelo Phiri, founder of Ag Beyond Sustainability. He shares a list of opportunities that digital technologies offer poor, rural communities beyond just agriculture. However, he warns that accelerating investment and innovation in digital agriculture should be key.
With Covid-19 having made us all more dependent on digital technology than ever before, now is the time to ensure that the revolution does not leave the world’s poorest communities further behind. Increasing investment in technologies to help rural farmers will yield far-reaching benefits for many years to come.
The Covid-19 pandemic has reshaped societies around the world by accelerating the digital revolution that was already underway. Since then, corporations have instituted mass teleworking. International gatherings now take place online, with heads of state and industry participating from home. Students learn remotely, and digital payments are further edging out cash.
However, with technology influencing our lives more than ever, there is a risk that it will spread unevenly, entrenching existing inequalities and leaving the rural poorest people further behind. That is not inevitable.
Digital technologies can help end global poverty and hunger faster, including in rural parts of developing countries where the majority of people earn their living from agriculture.
Digital revolution in agriculture
Digital agriculture whereby farmers use mobile phones and other digital technologies to access customised, actionable agricultural information in real time, could revolutionise how these communities secure and improve their livelihoods.
By making the right investments today, looking back to Covid-19 where many agricultural extension officers were restricted from visiting farmers in person, we saw a revolution that kick-started digital adoption which closed the income gap that has long held rural areas back.
It should go without saying that family farmers need timely, accurate information as much as any small enterprise does. That is why governments in developed and developing countries have for decades supported farmers with public information campaigns which need to be distributed to farmers.
Today, most farmers in the world’s remotest places have mobile phones and thus are equipped to receive targeted agricultural advice through simple text or voice messages, even without access to the Internet. For example, Yannick Chokola in Burundi, Auxfin delivers customised, crop-specific, free agricultural advice to over 200 000 farmers through their phones and customised tablets that are distributed to farmers in groups throughout the rural areas of Burundi.
There is extensive, rigorous evidence that such advisories delivered at scale and low cost can change farmers’ practices for the better. There is also growing evidence to show that farmers who are empowered with digital information will increase their yields, incomes, and resilience against shocks.
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Endless possibilities
Moreover, while farmers rely on mobile phones to receive market information, access bank accounts, and monitor weather forecasts, digital technologies offer a host of other opportunities for poor, rural communities. With support from the Weather Impact, Global Centre on Adaptation, and United Nations International Fund for Agriculture Development, remote sensors have been deployed to help rural farmers optimise water and fertiliser levels for their crops, and drones are being used to identify plants in poor health so that remedial action can be taken.
Innovations in digital agriculture also can help farmers increase their yields and incomes by adopting locally suited seeds and fertiliser, protecting crops from diseases and pests (such as fall armyworm or locusts), adapting to climate change, selling at the best possible price, and accessing financial services. All of these applications can expand rural farmers’ opportunities and reduce their risks.
In fact, digitisation has the potential to transform the agricultural sector in South Africa’s most rural areas, but doing so will require further innovation and strong partnerships between government, businesses, and farmers, as well as a regulatory environment to ensure that technology remains affordable and accessible for rural farmers.
The private sector should be encouraged to advance, adopt, and re-engineer technologies for, and in collaboration with, small-scale rural farmers. Investing in digital agriculture today offers the promise of a quadruple return. For starters, digitization can help many of the world’s poorest people weather the climate change crisis, by giving them remote access to advice, inputs, and markets.
Moreover, it can increase the overall food supply and boost food security through higher yields. Third, it can accelerate the adoption of a proven, cost-effective, scalable strategy for increasing long-term farm production and improving the livelihoods of poor, rural people. And, finally, it can give farmers a voice, enabling governments to direct and measure the impact of agricultural investments.
Increasing efficiency and productivity
Digital technology is, however, not a panacea. While farmers increasingly are equipped with mobile phones, they also need advice that is tailored to their needs, as well as access to agricultural inputs (fertilisers and seeds) and markets to sell their products. Now is the time to think about not just building back, but building forward.
By accelerating investment and innovation in digital agriculture, we can protect the world’s poorest people from some of the worst effects of the current climate crisis. With technology that is inclusive one hopes that we will have already laid the foundation for building a fairer, more prosperous, and sustainable future.
Tech is already revolutionising the way farmers grow crops and manage their livestock. But it’s not just about increasing efficiency and productivity, it is also helping to address some of the biggest challenges faced by rural communities, from access to healthcare and education to financial services.
Challenges in agriculture and rural development
Farmers and rural communities face a multitude of challenges, from unpredictable weather patterns to market fluctuations. These challenges can have a significant impact on their livelihoods and make it difficult to sustain their businesses. However, technology can help overcome these challenges by providing farmers with real-time data and analytics that enable them to make informed decisions.
For example, weather monitoring systems can help farmers anticipate changes in weather patterns and adjust their planting schedules accordingly.
Another challenge faced by rural farmers is the lack of access to markets. Many of these farmers majority small-scale struggle to find buyers for their products, which can lead to financial losses. However, technology can help connect farmers with potential buyers and improve their access to markets. For instance, online marketplaces allow farmers to sell their products directly to consumers, bypassing traditional distribution channels.
Benefits of technology in rural agriculture
It is proven that technology has revolutionised the way agriculture is practised, leading to increased efficiency, productivity, and profitability. For instance, precision agriculture uses IT tools such as sensors and GPS mapping to monitor soil conditions and crop growth, allowing farmers to optimize irrigation, fertilization, and pest control. This results in higher yields and lower input costs.
Another benefit of technology in agriculture is the use of drones for crop monitoring and spraying. Drones can cover large areas of farmland quickly and accurately, reducing labour costs and increasing efficiency. Additionally, tech tools like farm management software help farmers keep track of inventory, expenses, and sales, enabling them to make better decisions and improve their bottom line.
Smart farming
Smart farming is a concept that utilises technology to optimise crop yields, reduce waste, and improve sustainability. By using sensors, cameras, and other monitoring devices, farmers can collect data on soil moisture, temperature, and other factors in real time. This allows them to make informed decisions about irrigation, fertilisation, and pest control, resulting in higher yields and lower costs.
In addition to improving efficiency, smart farming also has environmental benefits. Reducing the use of pesticides and fertilisers can help to minimise the impact of agriculture on the environment. Furthermore, optimising water usage can help to conserve this precious resource.
- Thapelo Phiri, is an organic fertiliser specialist and founder of Ag Beyond Sustainability. He has completed his DCAS digital climate advisory services training focusing on smaller holder farmers and rural farmers in southern Africa. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Food For Mzansi.
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