The new booklet published by the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA ACP-EU) features 20 young people and three organizations, that have been involved in the CTA youth project called ARDYIS (Agriculture Rural Development and Youth in the Information Society).

In addition to portraying authors and highlighting their perspectives on youth involvement in agriculture using ICTs, the document presents summaries of best essays submitted for the contest «Youth finding solutions to challenges in agriculture and rural development using ICTs!», organised in 2010; it also presents the results of the Youth in Agriculture Blog Competition (YoBloCo Awards) completed in 2012.

L’implication des jeunes dans le développement agricole et le processus de prise de décisions est essentielle pour contribuer au développement durable en Afrique. Dans le contexte des TIC et de l’entrepreneuriat, cette implication revêt une dimension de première importance pour la modernisation agricole et la prospérité. C’est précisément ce qu’a déclaré son Excellence Rhoda Peace Tumusiime, Commissaire de l’Union africaine chargée de l’économie rurale et de l’agriculture, lors de l’atelier sur les jeunes, les TIC et l’entrepreneuriat dans l’agriculture, organisé conjointement par le Centre technique de coopération agricole et rurale (CTA) et le Programme e-Africa du NEPAD à Addis Abeba le 29 mars 2012.

« L’innovation fonctionne bien pour les grandes entreprises, mais il n’est pas aussi simple pour un entrepreneur isolé d’obtenir de la reconnaissance », déclare Eric Mutta, un développeur de logiciels dont la dernière application lui a permis de remporter le concours Défi Climat organisé par Apps4Africa. Mais c’est au travers de l’innovation des jeunes que l’Afrique trouvera des solutions aux problèmes à long terme.

Suite à l’évaluation publique des blogs soumis aux Prix YoBloCo, nous avons le plaisir d’annoncer les noms des 15 finalistes pour la catégorie individuelle. Nous avons enregistré au total  2214 votes, de la part de  2080 personnes (certains votants ayant accordé leur suffrage à deux blogs) et plus de 600 commentaires sur les blogs de la catégorie institutionnelle. Nous tenons à remercier tous les votants pour ces résultats éloquents et pour leur soutien.

Le Centre technique de coopération agricole et rurale ACP-UE (CTA), en collaboration avec les organisations FARA, Yam Pukri, CAFAN, AYF, ANAFE, SPC/PAFPNET, organise le concours de blogs «YoBloco Awards» (Prix des meilleurs blogs sur jeunes et agriculture).  Il est lancé dans le cadre de l'initiative ARDYIS du CTA  qui vise à sensibiliser les jeunes et à renforcer leurs capacités sur les enjeux de l’agriculture et du développement rural en utilisant les Technologies de l’information.

In societies where people have to travel several miles to get access to bank services and information, relatively inexpensive Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) are being increasingly exploited by rural youths in Kenya to fill these gaps and support their economic and social life. Using these ICTs, the youths are able to access real time price information, find help from farm professionals and connect to other young farmers in the region.

By Riten Chand Gosai, Pacific Regional Winner of the CTA ARDYIS Essay contest

Abstract
Agriculture continues to be the economic mainstay of the Fiji Islands and is metaphorically referred to as the backbone of the country. The sector, however, is not immune to obscurity and faces many challenges. Two of such challenges are the lack of agricultural information being disseminated to needy farmers and reluctance of small scale farmers to commercialize production. This essay examines how information and communication technology can be used to address these predicaments. Firstly, it will discuss how information poverty can be eradicated by the use of mobile phone applications, rural ‘telecentres’ with internet, video satellite presentations and the use of traditional media namely radio and television. Then it will entail how small holder farmers in Fiji can be encouraged to commercialize through interactive use of ICTs. These include enhancing production techniques, improving market access, stock control, quality control and the use of global positioning systems (GPS) in innovative farming. The essay also includes several examples of technologies that have been successfully implemented in other parts of the world in similar situations as the Fiji Islands.

By Gerald Musakaruka Mangena from Zimbabwe: Southern African Regional Winner of the CTA ARDYIS Essay contest

It is 7:00 in the morning, and a 28 year old Zimbabwean new farmer gets up to prepare for the day. This season she expects a good 500 tonnes of high quality potatoes. Today will be her first day of selling and she is still wondering where all these potatoes will be sold.

By Maureen Agena from Uganda: East African Regional Winner of the CTA ARDYIS Essay contest.

With over 88% of Uganda’s Population of 29 million being rural based and depending almost entirely on agriculture at various levels of livelihoods. It is widely held that access to accurate and timely information by rural communities can not only increase agricultural productivity; it can also result into enhanced economic and social development.

By Chris Mwangi from Kenya: East African Regional Winner of the CTA ARDYIS Essay contest

Currently, Kenya has four active mobile operators. The technology is the prime mode of communication in the country. Since its introduction, the industry has picked up quickly and remarkably, covering most of the geographical areas of the country and has contributed greatly to local peoples’ livelihoods.