Digital Services In Agriculture I
Overview
The Digital Services in Agriculture Program was conceptualized from a User Needs Assessment on improving access to locally relevant and development-oriented digital content in Laikipia County, conducted in April 2020. Implemented by ACWICT and the OPWAK Consortium with funding from the FCDO Digital Access Program (DAP), the nicknamed “Maudhui Digiti Project” aimed at enhancing digital content access for underserved small holder agricultural communities.
The Needs Assessment revealed that:
- Only 1% of small holder farmers relied on digital content as source of agricultural information
- Lack of awareness and skills on existing online opportunities
- Language – (unavailability of agricultural digital content in local languages)
- High cost of internet and poor coverage were the main barriers to access.
- Gender disparity in internet access skills and use – More men likely to have used internet than women
- Minimal use of digital platforms to procure inputs, access information and financial services among others
The initial study revealed that small holder farmers (majority of whom were women) had a very low reliance on digital agricultural content, with only 1% of them using digital resources for agricultural information. This was largely due to significant barriers such as limited digital literacy, high internet costs, and gender disparities in access to technology. Recognizing these challenges, the project set forth ambitious goals aimed at transforming agriculture through digitization, in line with Kenya’s Vision 2030.
The project’s main objectives were to increase digital literacy among farmers, provide locally relevant digital content, create widespread awareness, establish information centers, and foster strategic partnerships.
To achieve these goals, a series of targeted activities were implemented. These included advocacy for improved internet access, comprehensive digital skills training, the digitization of relevant agricultural content, and the execution of awareness campaigns to reach more farmers.
Due to these concerted efforts, there was a significant increase in digital literacy among farmers, enhanced access to digital content, and greater awareness of the benefits of digital agriculture. The project successfully laid the foundation for a more digitally connected and informed farming community, helping to pave the way for sustainable agricultural transformation in Kenya.
Key Impact/Achievements in Phase I
- Co-development and validation of an appropriate digital skills curriculum in Agriculture.
- Enrollment and training of 96 (50M, 46F) TOTs on digital skills.
- Facilitation of TOTs to cascade training to 5,269 (1,745M, 3,524F) farmers.
- Created awareness to 22,872 farmers through TOTs on the use of ICT in Agriculture.
- Reached 123,000 farmers through local radio stations
- Documentation of lessons learned from the project
- Partnerships agreement signed to support access to relevant digital content
- Partnerships reached to enhance access to the internet with Internet Service Providers in Laikipia County
- Co-created, validated, and digitized agricultural content for 18 value chains.
- Enhanced farmers’ use of mobile phones and other digital technologies to access customized, actionable agricultural information in real-time.
