ict in agriculture - Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation

FOREWORD
FOREWORD
The livelihoods of the world’s poor rise and fall with the fate of agriculture. Enhancing the ability of smallholders to connect
with the knowledge, networks, and institutions necessary to improve their productivity, food security, and employment
opportunities is a fundamental development challenge. Where once rural areas were largely disconnected from the greater
world, today, networks of information and communication technologies (ICTs) enmesh the globe and represent a transformational
opportunity for rural populations, both as producers and consumers. However, climate change and price fluctuations in
the global food market remind us that realizing this opportunity requires a long-term commitment to mobilizing appropriate
resources and expertise.
It is for this reason that we are particularly pleased to introduce the ICT in Agriculture e-Sourcebook. This resource was
designed to support practitioners, decision-makers, and development partners who work at the intersection of ICT and
agriculture. Our hope is that it becomes a practical guide in understanding current trends, implementing appropriate interventions,
and evaluating the impact of those programs. It combines cutting-edge expertise in ICT with empirical knowledge of
a wide range of agricultural sectors, from governance to supply chain management. As an online knowledge source, it will
continue to evolve and be updated to reflect the emerging and changing challenges and opportunities facing the sector.
This activity was carried out as part of the program on Creating Sustainable Businesses in the Knowledge Economy, for which
the Government of Finland provided generous support. The publication represents a partnership of infoDev and the Agriculture
and Rural Development Department of the World Bank Group, with significant contributions from outside experts. It is also
a companion piece to the Agricultural Innovation Systems Sourcebook (World Bank, forthcoming). We are grateful for the
contributions and look forward to continuing work that assists in meeting the Millennium Development Goal of halving the
share of people suffering from extreme poverty and hunger by 2015.
Valerie D’Costa Juergen Voegele
Program Manager Director
infoDev Agriculture and Rural Development
The World Bank The World Bank
ECONOMIC AND SECTOR WORK
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