Agric information systems a game changer
ONE of the major aims of National Development Strategy (NDS1) is building community resilience through digital technologies.
Recent trends have shown that climate change and environmental risks are a present-day reality in our country.
Increasing temperatures and sea levels, changing rainfall patterns and more extreme weather are threatening human health and safety, food and water security and socio-economic development in Africa.
It is estimated that more than 90 percent of people facing extreme poverty today are in countries vulnerable to natural disasters and climate risk.
It is critical for Government to invest in the digitalisation of agriculture, thereby leading to automated decision making process to improve efficiency, reduce costs, increase yields and productivity as well as household income.
The recent launch of the Agricultural Information Management System (AIMS) in Manicaland, which is aimed at mainstreaming information and communications technology into agriculture, is timely and critical given the fact that the effects of climate change are starting to be felt across the country.
Indeed, the AIMS system is a game changer. For the first time in the country’s history, the agriculture information management system will harmonise all information that is agriculture related - from crops, livestock, water, land and market information.
A functional AIMS system will help guide policymakers in coming up with evidence based policy interventions that are demand driven.
The AIMS platform will also be linked to the national database managed by ZIMSTAT and regional databases under the African Union, COMESA and SADC.
Speaking at the launch of the AIMS project in Mutare last week on Friday, Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Permanent Secretary, Dr John Basera said, “It is important that as a sector, we embrace ICT tools that will in turn accelerate the transformation of the agriculture sector.
“ICT tools will make it easier for our ministry to efficiently utilise the AIMS platform that will store agricultural data, and ensure that the data is protected.
“This AIMS platform will harmonise and standardise all agricultural data. ln the past this was not the case as agricultural data was scattered across different databases.
“It is my hope that by harmonising all agricultural data and standardising it, it will improve the quality of information that is generated from this data,” said Dr Basera.
Zimbabwe became the 26th member of the Smart Africa Alliance in August 2018.
The Smart Africa initiative has many pillars, ranging from Smart Cities, Smart Health and the Digital Economy, among others.
The Alliance was mooted after Africa realised its vulnerability in the family of nations, especially in terms of poverty eradication, food security, industrialisation and economic sustainability. Smart Africa chief strategy and growth officer, Mr Didier Nkurikiyimfura
said: “It is a pleasure for me to be here to witness the grand launch of AIMS. It is a partnership with Zimbabwe and we are buoyed by the verve that Government has shown. The era that we are in is an era of data. Without data you can do nothing and this initiative will improve productivity in the agricultural sector to a greater extent.”
Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services Minister, Dr Jenfan Muswere, whose speech was read by the Permanent Secretary in his ministry, Dr Beaular Chirume said: “Agriculture plays the pivotal role of supplying 60 percent of raw materials to a growing manufacturing sector as well as creating a rural middle class that forms an effective domestic demand for industrial products and services.
“Moreover, the sustainable growth in integration of agricultural and non-agricultural activity drives industrialisation and economic diversification, sustainable resource and environmental management, job creation, human security and shared prosperity. Faced with these realities, smart agriculture is arguably the transformative pathway to inclusive prosperity that offers opportunities for ICT innovations and smart solutions that will see Africa emancipating itself in record time,” said the Minister.
The development is also a tremendous stride for local farmers as it provides them with vital information pertaining to sowing, crop protection and improving productivity.
Weather-related advisories and alerts help farmers prepare for things like floods, drought, or even pest and disease outbreaks, thereby preventing significant crop loss.