How technology is transforming Africa’s agricultural industry.

How technology is transforming Africa’s agricultural industry. The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (Agra) is reporting that close to 70% of the population is involved in agriculture as smallholder farmers working on parcels of land that are, on average, less than 2 hectares. Given those statistics, the importance of agriculture at the heart of conversations on Africa’s economy’s journey cannot be overemphasized. The World Bank estimates that Africa’s food market will be worth $1 trillion by 2030 up from the current $300 billion. In addition, the continent’s food import bill, the latest trends show, stands anywhere between $30–50 billion. How technology is transforming Africa’s agricultural industry.

Strive Masiyiwa: If I started again I’d do agriculture, says telecoms tycoon.

Strive Masiyiwa: If I started again I’d do agriculture, says telecoms tycoon.Zimbabwean tycoon Strive Masiyiwa made his money in the mobile telecoms business, but if he were to start all over again, he would bet on agriculture. Speaking at the opening of this year’s African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) in Zambia’s capital Lusaka, Masiyiwa made a case for the opportunities in the agriculture industry. The Zimbabwean billionaire is chairman of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), an organisation set up in 2006 to support smallholder farmers with the goal of reducing poverty and hunger. Masiyiwa noted Africa’s food market would be worth US$1tr in just 15 years, citing a 2013 report by the World Bank. According to a report launched at the forum, Africa currently spends more than $60bn on food imports each year thereby benefiting producers outside the continent.

FOOD SUMMIT.

A food summit is underway and investors are expected to storm the event,and contribute to the food security scheme. A large number of value chains are on the platform,but my area is the poultry value chain. 

This discussion will be elaborate with various dimensions and most of all exciting interviews with key players in the industry and prospective investors,so hop in ,the train has left the station. 

 AN EXPOSE ON THE POULTRY VALUE CHAIN. Its my duty to break the myth about the poultry value chain, this is an industry where you can profit on various level if you harness the opportunities. 

 

Welcome to the poultry business:look at the diagram, it shows several areas for investment.to  make profit. These stages also have subsets,giving opportunities for investment based on various financial capacity and target market.

TELECOMMUNICATION AS A TOOL FOR FOOD SECURITY AND SAFETY.

The role of telecommunication as a tool for food security,food safety and sustainability. This is how to use telecommunication to trace,track and report food fraud thus promoting food safety.

This involves creating a platform , a central data pool of various farmers and agricultural value chain.This platform will be multifaceted, linking all the aspects of the agricultural chain thus providing a tracking and tracing model. This will be a planning tool,marketing tool and learning platform.

 The platform will have data of those involved in the various aspect of the chain,their location, the aspect of production they are involved in and the population of the animals.

This information will give data on vaccination/medication, so that at any point in time the health status of various sets of animals can be accessed.




The platform will be a vital tool for planning,because you know the number of birds in chain,the vaccines can be acquired, medications/vitamins can be sourced and distributed.

 The platform will be a marketing tool,where manufacturers of drugs,feed,farm tools can reach out to customers.Each chain operator will have a code,this will allow tracing,tracking and tailored medical interventions.

 The platform will grant open access to all strata of the chain; linking all aspects together so that customers can access all sale information on the site.

Training and learning will be available on site,with hand outs,webinars and interactive forum;where farmers can be tutored and also create an opportunity for interested farmers and investors to be trained.

INVESTORS FORUM : POULTRY VALUE CHAIN.

LOOK AT INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES HERE;