Date: 1 - 30 November 2013
Sponsored by FAO and Hivos. The programme for this seminar was designed to provide examples of how ICT is being used in Zimbabwe to assist farmers. Mubatsiri, eMkambo and RLMS have platforms that assist farmers with market access. Zim-AIED has been piloting the use of tablets to improve the quality and efficiency of extension services. Agritex are testing some of the new technologies with a number of partners. ZFU is using email, SMS and Facebook to communicate with its members. Agrilife is an exciting new development in Zimbabwe, with potential to create financial identities for farmers, making them attractive for investment. The recently launched Ecofarmer has bundled a number of financial (e.g. Ecocash and Weather Index Insurance) and non-financial services that will assist smallholders in operating their business with greater efficiency.