While a number of challenges exist, there are several opportunities in using modern information and communication technologies (ICTs) to improve farming operations.
This was the general agreement at the Vodafone Power Talk, which was held in Kampala last Thursday July 30.
A good mix
The event, which was the second in a series of such engagements organised by Vodafone Uganda, attracted farmers, representatives of farmers' organisations, entrepreneurs, decision makers, academia, as well as agricultural and ICT experts.
The mix of speakers tackled the issues involved or encountered and best practices to adopt in improving agricultural value chains and agribusiness.
While the first Power Talk covered how small and medium enterprises can use the internet to grow their business, the theme for the second one was "Enhancing Agricultural production through ICT".
Organised to ensure as much as interaction as possible, there were presentations by the panellists interlaced with moderated questions-and-answers sessions.
The main speakers were: Robert Kintu, the managing director, FIT Uganda, Ronald Katamba, from Afrosoft IT Solutions, Stuart Oramire, the director of operations, Agency for Transformation, Maggie Kigozi, the former executive director, Uganda Investment Authority, and Victoria Sekitoleko, the chairperson, Uganda Agribusiness Alliance and also a former Agriculture minister.
Leverage ICTs
In his presentation on the topic, Production data influencing growth in the agribusiness sector, Mr Kintu covered the importance of data collection and produce tracking in farming as a business, the use of mobile and online applications and the role of mobile network operators in agriculture.
The highlight of Mr Katamba's presentation was the Jaguza app. It is a mobile phone and online application which allows farmers to automatically monitor their livestock, that is, cattle, goats, pigs, rabbits and sheep. It has real-time reporting of disease outbreaks and health condition of the animals and monitoring things like feeds.
Taken from AllAfrica.com
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