ICT4Agriculture

Session 4c, 29 October 2014 eChallenges e-2014 Copyright 2014 IICD

Youth, ICTs and Agriculture - Exploring

how digital tools and skills influence

the motivation of young farmers

Martine Koopman

IICD

The Netherlands


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTDvQT_Kenw&feature=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTDvQT_Kenw&feature=youtu.be


Smallholder farming – realities and

associations

Poor farm practices

Low productivity Low income Intensive labour

Lack of trainingGender

inequalitiesFinancial risks

Lack of access to the inputs,

services, credit and markets

Vulnerable to environmental and economic

shocks

Intense competition from

sophisticated multinationals

High transaction costs


The importance of attracting youth

into farming

“Growth of the agriculture

sector in developing

countries is one of the

most effective

mechanisms to alleviate

poverty.” UN 2010

“Feeding a global

population in 2050 will

require a 70% increase in

global food production.

This will require that

particularly smallholder

agriculture – plays a much

more effective role.” IFAD 2011

“23% of the working poor are young people

and the majority of these poor youth live in

rural areas.

Because of limited job prospects, many young

people leave rural areas to seek employment

opportunities elsewhere.” ILO 2012


“With the right conditions smallholders can be at the forefront of a

transformation in the world’s agriculture” UNEP 2013

Propensity for taking higher

entrepreneurial risks

Capacity to innovate

Affinity for using ICTs

Access to extension information, geo-

data and info on agricultural inputs

Access to markets and info on market

price and demand

Access to finance and financial

information

Management and administration of the

farmer organizations

Youth ICTs

Potential of ICTs for activating young

farmers


The research investigated the linkages between the

introduction and use of ICT in farming and the interest of

youth in farming and value chain development.

Research focus - Youth’s ICT-enabled

journey into profitable farming


• What is the role of ICT in young famers’ engagement in

farming, farmer groups, and value chain development?

• How do they appropriate ICT in their farming operations

and/or value chain development?

• Has the role of young farmers changed as a result of

the introduction of ICT?

Research questions


Exploratory QualitativeOpen interviews with individuals

Focus groups interviews

Young and older farmers, NGO staff,

village leaders, private sector

actors and local government

Research methodology


Technology description


Identified rural youth’s personal

motivations and drivers

“I could use

help to better

manage my

farm and

increase

yields”

“I need

efficient way

of keeping

my farm

records”“ICT could

help me get a

job in town”

“I want to

start using

pesticides

and I want to

know more

how”

“I need to

connect to

the market

directly so I

don’t rely on

exploitative

middlemen”

“I’d like to

start growing

tomatoes,

but don’t

know about

greenhouses

”

“My

cooperative

is looking for

staff to

support new

program”


Identified steps of youth’s ICT-enabled

journey into profitable farming

Young farmers

struggle to make ends

meet

Young farmers are introduced

to the digital world

through trainings in

the ICT centre

Young farmers start

applying ICTs to

improve production techniques and access to markets.

Early adopters of

ICT see benefits & return on

investment, increased access to

advice services and

higher incomes.

Higher incomes in turn act as motivation to continue

applying ICT tools on farming.

Increased recognition comes from

parents, family and community members.

Other community members,

inspired by early

adopters and their success,

follow suit.


Identified rural youth’s new ways of

‘harvesting’ information


Family

Community

Private sector

Government’s

Extension

Workers

Farmer

Organizations

Identified driver of change: Stronger social

position of youth internally and externally


Social change: Rural youth equipped, empowered,

and capacitated to move beyond restricted futures


Impact on youth in a nuthsell

Youths are seen as more serious players for private

sector actors

Obtaining market information has enhanced youth’s negotiation basis

The role of youths stands out more strongly internally

and externally

Youth trained in ICT are appointed to more

responsible roles in the producer groups and

collection centres

Youths have started to rent or buy land, in addition to obtaining land from their

parents


Recommendations

Differentiate and tailor ICT training approaches and

user support on the basis age, marital status, gender, and ownership of or access

to land

Pay attention to removing obstacles that prohibit

young women from fully participating in, and taking advantage of, ICT-related

activities

Furnish ICT centres as learning spaces to support

informal exchanges and networking by young

farmers (male and female)

Encourage the emergence of diverse early adopters

and role models to inspire diverse profiles and groups

of youths to follow suit

Consider strategies to diffuse integration of ICT from specific value chain

crops to diverse crops and activities

Include ongoing monitoring, evaluation and learning activities as part of the programmes to identify unintended negative effects

and undertake corrective action when necessary.


Q&A

Martine Koopman

IICD

[email protected]

Government & Nonprofit

ICT4Agriculture