E-Agriculture In Ghana – Everything You Need To Know

Ghana’s E-Agriculture Program is run by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.

Vision for E-Agriculture Ghana

The Ministry’s objective is for modernized agriculture to result in a structurally transformed economy with improved food security, job opportunities, and poverty reduction. http://www.mofa.gov.gh has further information.

Mission for E-Agriculture Ghana

MOFA’s mission is to improve farmers’, processors’, and traders’ livelihoods by promoting sustainable agriculture and thriving agribusiness through research and technology development, effective extension, and other support services.

The Information Communication and Technology Unit of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) has executed the E-Agriculture Programme, an ICT initiative funded by the World Bank through the West African Agriculture Productivity Programme (WAAPP).

The program focuses on crops, livestock, vegetable production, and gender issues in Ghana’s agriculture. The E-Agriculture Program’s major goal is to use the internet and information communication technologies (ICTs) to supply economical, timely, and efficient agricultural services.

This provides comprehensive and up-to-date information on crop and animal production, market prices, farm management techniques and practices, and traceability in Ghanaian agriculture to the actors in the agriculture value chain.

The E-Agriculture Program is based on the idea of embracing models that help participants in the agricultural value chain communicate and learn more effectively. When ICT is used to improve Agriculture, Food Security, and Rural Development, this will aid in bridging the gap between knowledge creators and users. Ghana’s horticulture exports have increased dramatically since 1997.

Pineapples and citrus fruits account for the majority of horticulture exports, which are shipped by air and sea to countries across the world. By tying horticulture exporters to the SPEG, the government has taken proactive steps to assist them.

This allows a ship to dock in Tema, where the export is loaded into one or more holds and subsequently transported. Problems with Ghanaian Horticultural Exports When it comes to horticulture, quality is a key concern.

Read also:How To Start A Crop Farming Business And Make The Most money – Useful Guide

Ghana’s main challenge right now is educating producers about the importance of quality. Farmers and growers can benefit from using ICT platforms and portals to learn about the best agricultural and handling methods. Farmers can call the national e-Agriculture program center’s call center, which includes a toll-free number, for information on various agricultural extension and advisory services.

Other commercial sector businesses in Ghana, such as ESOKO and VODAFON, have call centers dedicated to e-agriculture. We need more private sector involvement in ICT applications for sustainable horticulture production.

The following are the components of the E-Agriculture Program Platform:

E-Farm Information (Farmer Audio Library/Interactive Voice Response System [IVR]), in which an interested person dials a toll-free number and is guided through the methods of the chosen crop or animal production in their native language, at any time and in any place.

Extension officers are equipped with current tools and applications to collect farmer data and report on events on particular farms, allowing for more accurate and timely responses to field requirements and early control systems to protect food security.

Phone Center; where members of the public can call a toll-free number and acquire all the information they need about agriculture from call center agents in any local language they like. In Ghana, you can contact the toll-free number 1848 or the IVR system at 30037 to get any agricultural information.

The E-Learning and Resource Centre is a center for information and technology training aimed at encouraging youth to pursue careers in agriculture. Web portal for the dissemination of agricultural news and current operations, as well as information on all actors in the agricultural value chain.

FARMER IMPACT AND BENEFITS OF E-AGRICULTURE

More professional knowledge, services, and best practices are available. This research has made a wealth of information available to farmers in order to make their jobs easier. There are three primary sources of data: Interactive Voice Response (IVR) (IVR) The internet portal The customer service center These resources have been made available in order to provide the specialist knowledge required to make the farmer’s job considerably easier and more effective. Using the proper information to reduce the expense of trying different therapies to fix the problem at hand.

A direct line to a reputable seed and fertilizer supplier
Best cultivation procedures are available to you (land preparation, soil testing, best seeds and fertilizers, etc.)
The advantages of aggregation, which resulted in better deals
Higher-quality seeds and enhanced processes based on best-practice information result in lower fertilizer, pesticide, labor, and other expenditures.

OFFICER IN CHARGE OF EXTENSION

Most extension officers’ workload has been decreased by e-agriculture because they no longer need to return to their labs or other sources of information/remedy before providing the farmers with a solution to their difficulties. It has made the following available:

Direct contact with farmers who would otherwise be inaccessible
The ability to put academic research and innovation to the test in real-world scenarios.
The ability to work with large groups of farmers to solve practical problems and share best practices.

PROCESSOR

E-agriculture has shown to be quite beneficial to numerous agricultural processors. Their task has been simplified and made more convenient for them. This effort has resulted in the following:

Ability to mass-produce products in a cost-effective and direct manner
Ability to link buyers and sellers in order to maximize market efficiency
Access to bigger numbers of farmers that is direct, inexpensive, and transparent
For increased efficiency and fewer losses, better forecasting is required.
Relationships with farmers and technology businesses are stronger.

New business prospects based on a tried-and-true model that improves technology adoption readiness.
Ability to reach out to a new consumer base early on in order to reap long-term benefits
Increased access to technology provides the opportunity to accomplish both corporate and societal benefits.

THE PUBLIC IN GENERAL

E-agriculture has had a direct and indirect impact on the general public. Farmers aren’t the only ones who may benefit from the numerous sources of information; anyone who requires any type of agricultural information can benefit from them. This project has made it possible for people to make inquiries about creating a farm, caring for their pets, purchasing agro-products, and so on.