ICT – all that is between Rwanda and value-added agriculture

Approximately 65% of Africa’s workforce is involved in agriculture and the sector makes up 32% of the continent’s GDP, so there is a good reason to be optimistic about the future. So said Michael Hailu, director of CTA (Technical Centre for Agriculture and Rural Cooperation), at the ICT4Ag Conference being held in Kigali, Rwanda.

The Conference was organised to explore the possibilities that ICT can provide in agriculture and to develop new solutions that can improve the day-to-day operations of Africa’s millions of farmers and was attended by more than 400 delegates including policy makers and telecoms operators from over 60 countries. “Governments are increasing ICT investments in agriculture, and it must be transformed into a sustainable business while making the markets more efficient,” he said during the official opening of the event.

Michael Ryan, the European Union ambassador to Rwanda, expressed his delight in being associated with the development in ICT throughout Rwanda.  “I’m very proud to attach the use of the EU name to some of these projects that are coming out of Rwanda. The EU has been a long partner in Rwanda and will do so for many years, and integrating ICT into communities are essential to reach goals.”

Ambassador Valentine Rugwabiza, CEO of Rwanda Development Board, added that the time is now for ICT to drive agriculture, but a lot needs to happen. “There is no better way to improve ICT than through a conference such as ICT4Ag. Agriculture will remain the biggest employer in Africa, so through a conference like this we can really improve the sector and improve lives.”

“But we have to move from primary agriculture to value-added agriculture. We need to increase productivity, but also need to improve the efficiency – which are closely linked. I’m here to listen to the number of applications that are being developed here. There are a number of applications today that shifts agriculture into a new world.”