Mobile Technology Limitations

ICT in Agriculture

• Technology is a frustration when demands exceed its ability to deliver services, and rural areas in developed countries often lack internet and/or cellular coverage.
• The growth of mobile network coverage in developing countries is rapid, but there is concern that operators will not expand coverage to remote, low-population areas.
• Capacity is a major issue, as older people and women in some communities may not have the skills to use ICT effectively.
• Intermediaries and capacity development can help address this issue.

Content and Information

• Content is often not available in forms usable with modern ICT, and an "ecosystem" of relevant information and data is needed.
• Information should be developed according to the needs of end-users (e.g. farmers), provided in local languages, in simple, interactive form, and up-to-date.
• According to Ethio-telecom (2021), the total number of mobile subscribers in Ethiopia reached 56.2 million.

ICT Applications and Automation in Agriculture

• ICT applications and tools are used for data collection and dissemination, and examples include Artificial Intelligence (AI), Data Science, Electronic-Agriculture (E-Agriculture), remote sensing, and Global Positioning System (GPS).
• Automation in agriculture is an emerging subject, and new methods have satisfied food requirements and provided employment opportunities.

Challenges and Solutions of ICT in Agriculture

• ICT improves agricultural growth, but there are challenges and opportunities in its application in developing countries.
• Challenges can be grouped into three categories: technology, capacity, and content.
• ICT can provide a solution to overcome challenges in agriculture, including poor access to markets and financial services, low levels of human and physical capital, and poor access to education and weak information flows.

Roles of ICT in Agriculture

• ICT can improve business and networking between farmers, buyers, and extension agents, and facilitate access to reliable markets.
• ICT can provide financial services, including mobile money, and facilitate electronic-agriculture, improving productivity and profitability.
• ICT can improve information flow and connect people within rural areas, enabling farmers to make informed decisions on land use, crop production, and input purchasing.
• Effective knowledge management enables appropriate knowledge and information to reach smallholder farmers and other practitioners at the right time and in the right way.