The project
is called Regional Agricultural Information and Learning System and is funded
by the African Development Bank through the Forum for Agriculture Research. The
Association for Strengthening Research in Agriculture in Eastern and Central
Africa (Asareca) will establish an online portal to share scientific research and
related innovations among 11 member states.
The 1.2
million project seeks to improve agriculture both in terms of quantity and
quality yields as well as enhancing the marketing.
The project
will also enable farmers to access information in priority areas, depending on
scientific assessment. Dr. Sefyu Ketema, the executive director of Asareca,
said in Entebbe early this week that there is need to link research findings
and other information in the agricultural sector to the people who need it
most.
“We think we
must use the internet, give its reach. The internet has become a major source
of information, thus we can’t afford to ignore it,” Dr. Ketema said.
Dr. Ketema,
who was handling over 10 computer notebooks and two cameras to Naro and other
partners, said the project will provide a platform through which agricultural
information is accessed as well as building capacity through short term ICT
training. The project code named the
Regional Agricultural Information and Learning System is funded by the African
development bank through the forum for agriculture research in Africa that
works with national agriculture institutions and other stake holders at country
level.
The website
will also provide links to institutions and individual websites in the
agriculture sector in Africa. If the
facility distributed is put to good use then the use of ICT in disseminating
agricultural research will help in promoting farming for the better future especially
at time when the agricultural sector is faced with challenges such as rising of
food prices, climate change effect, increasing poverty and a fast growing
population.