Emerging Voices in ICT and agriculture - CTA Publishing

on the path to becoming small-scale entrepreneurs.
ICTs are becoming more widely available
in rural areas of this West African country,
despite problems posed by poor infrastructure
and illiteracy. And the slow but steady march of
new technologies is bringing important changes
to the agriculture sector on which most people
depend for their livelihoods.
In the early stages, in Burkina Faso, ICTs were
mainly used to help farmers improve crop farming
practices and obtain forecasts about the
weather. Then, gradually, the scope began to
widen and new communication tools were introduced
to open up market access. These days,
agricultural information is available through a
host of channels, including the Internet, television
and radio, as well as on DVDs and CD ROMs.
Some initiatives have become household names.
TV Koodo runs a popular service broadcasting
commodity prices on television and the Internet.
A system launched by NGO APROSSA - Afrique
Verte also sends out regular bulletins on the
situation in agricultural markets. A market information
system managed by SONAGESS publishes
cereal prices on a website.
Traceability with ICTs
GPS offers scope for tracking products in the
value chain, a prerequisite for some markets and
an important stepping stone on the path to certification.
Several women’s producer organizations
have succeeded in obtaining certification
using this technology.
The Internet has made it possible to sell – and
buy – at the click of a mouse, opening up new
markets for producers. A number of producers’
organizations have been swift to seize this
opportunity, setting up websites to promote their
products. Some women’s groups are successfully
using this strategy to sell the shea butter that
they produce.
When there is no Internet, the mobile phone can
be used to distribute market information and
make deals with buyers. The Burkina Faso
Chamber of Commerce has launched a project
called Mobile Business which uses SMS messages
to provide producers and traders with the latest
details on local and international market prices.
Much progress has been made in using ICTs to
spur the agriculture sector. But there is scope
for a great deal more, although parallel improvements
must be made in raising literacy and education
levels if the strategy is to achieve the best
effect. A market intelligence unit would be an
invaluable tool for farmers and traders alike.
Powered by software that ensures regularly
updated market information from a range of different
sources, such a system would be a significant
help in decision-making. More information
means more business, and that is good news for
everyone in Burkina Faso’s agriculture sector.
Based on the original essay:
“Comment les TIC peuvent-elles être utilisées
pour améliorer l’accès au marché des produits
agricoles du Burkina Faso?” by Inoussa Traoré.
Key references
Ministère de l’Economie et de Finance du Burkina
Faso (2003) Cadre stratégique de lutte contre la
pauvreté, Programme d’Actions Prioritaires de
mise en œuvre du Cadre Stratégique de Lutte
contre la Pauvreté 2004–2006.
Ouédraogo, S. (2009) Nouvelles technologies et
organisations paysannes, l’état des lieux au
Burkina Faso, Burkina-ntic, Special Forum TIC &
Agriculture, Novembre 2009.
Shaping the future of ACP rural development using ICTs... 33 |