E-agriculture

Agriculture faces different environmental, economic and social challenges that make the case for transition towards sustainability. Digitization is one of the most significant ongoing transformation processes in global agriculture. Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) range from traditional communication aids (e.g. telephones, televisions), internet and mobile applications, to Big Data analytics and information systems, Cloud computing, Internet of Things, remote sensing and drones, blockchain and artificial intelligence. Different terms have been used to refer to the application of ICTs in agriculture e.g. digital agriculture, e-agriculture, smart agriculture, precision agriculture. This review paper analyses the potential of ICT in agricultural sector. In particular, it explores the benefits of ICT in terms of agriculture smartness and sustainability, provides an overview on the main technologies used, delineates the contours of the smart farming market and landscape, and analyses the potential drawbacks of such a ‘digital revolution’ in agriculture. Smart agriculture is presented by some scholars and practitioners as the ‘Third Green Revolution’, after the plant breeding and genetics revolutions. It is widely recognised that ICTs can help reducing inefficiencies, increasing resource productivity, decreasing management costs, and improving traceability and transparency. However, some caution is needed to make the ongoing ‘digital revolution’ in agriculture inclusive for small-scale farmers and women, especially in developing countries. Moreover, some threats and challenges relating to digital and smart technologies need to be appropriately addressed through policies to support the development of the necessary market and legal architecture for ICT and smart farming, with due consideration to ethical questions.

Agriculture is the backbone of our country. Though its contribution to GDP is just around 14 percent, over half of our country’s population depends on agriculture for their livelihoods. The risingfood prices have pushed people back into poverty. The growing global population, expected to
hit 9 billion by 2050, has heightened the demand for food and placedpressure on alreadyfragile resources. Feeding that population will require a 70 per cent increase in food production.Agriculture faces a range of modern and serious challenges, particularly in developing countries exposed to price shocks, climate change, and continued deficiencies in infrastructure in rural areas. It is in this context that ICTs play a crucial role in helping people meet the demand for increased
food production. ICTs can play a very crucial role by disseminating information to farmers to help them make better well informed decisions. Through ICTs people can obtain the latest up-to-date information, learn and practice sustainable farming. It is in this regard that seven case studies have been documented in this report to understand the various unique pathways through which ICTs can play a crucial role in promoting agricultural development.

Industry and Services Division, Science and Technology Policy Research Institute (STEPRI), Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Accra, Ghana. Box CT 519, Accra-Ghana Agriculture, Medicine and Environment Division, Science and Technology Policy Research Institute (STEPRI), Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Accra, Ghana. Box CT 519, Accra-Ghana Programmes and Implementation Department, Grameen Foundation (GFUSA), No. 21 Asoyi Road, East Legon, Accra-Ghana