To foster African startups in the agricultural sector and strengthen the long- term living conditions of local small-scale farmers by increasing productivity and quality, Information technology (IT) multinational IBM this week announced its active support for the Digital4Agriculture Initiative (D4AG), which aims.
With the help of digital expertise from IBM Services and access to accurate weather data provided by IBM’S The Weather Company, D4AG is helping more than 36 African agricultural companies become better prepared for the digital future.
Reliable weather forecasts are very difficult to make for Africa’s agricultural industry as a result of a lack of IT infrastructure.
Small agricultural enterprises not only lack Internet access and suitable hardware, but existing data is often unreliable or difficult to process, says technology entrepreneurship initiative Make-it in Africa consultant Desiree Winges. Make-it in Africa is responsible for D4AG in Africa.
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By making high-resolution weather data available to agricultural startups, D4AG is providing valuable information to small-scale farmers that can help them make important decisions with greater confidence. For example, historical weather data from a tea plantation served as training material and showed how data analysis can be used to increase yields, as well as to determine the best time to harvest or the optimal use of fertilisers or pest control.
“We want to help local startups to reach more customers and develop new markets. To this end, we provide them with basic knowledge in the areas of data analytics, interoperability and business modelling. We also want to promote cooperation between startups and platform operators to fully exploit the opportunities of the digital world,” she says.
“Small farmers are the backbone of Africa’s food supply and their success and quality of life depend upon having reliable weather forecast data and insights. We are proud to provide African farmers with weather information and services accessible to help them better manage and improve their crop production,” says IBM Public Sector account executive Florian Scheil.
Experts from the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) and IBM Services have been working on the project for about three years and have developed a digital coaching concept for startups offering agricultural services to African farmers. The high-resolution weather data, which serves as a basis, is provided by The Weather Company.
To achieve this, IBM Services and GIZ have created a three-stage, interactive training concept consisting of individual e-learning, workshops on business modelling, interoperability and data analytics and detailed materials with tips and suggestions for future projects.
