Development Gateway: An IREX Venture (DG) is pleased to announce the launch of our Digital Agriculture Knowledge Management Library, which is a digital repository of resources detailing digital agriculture best practices. These resources were created to support individuals and groups across Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia as they adopt and use digital tools and technologies to strengthen rural agriculture systems. The Digital Agriculture Knowledge Management Library was developed through DG’s Digital Agriculture Services for Accelerated Rural Transformation (DAS) Program.
About the DAS Program
DG’s DAS Program aims to close the gap in digital tools and information access for smallholder farmers. The ultimate aim of the program is to create resilient food systems across Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia.
The DAS program—which launched in March 2022 and will continue through March 2025—is funded through the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and implemented in partnership with Jengalab and TechChange.
What is Digital Agriculture and Why is it Necessary?
Digital agriculture is the use of digital tools and technologies (also known as AgTech) in order to improve crop yields, increase productivity and profitability, and/or manage livestock. For example, a farmer using an app to track weather patterns in order to determine the best time to plant a particular crop is one example of how a digital agriculture tool (in this case the app) can support farmers. Laws, policies, and guidelines—created by governments or organizations—that specify the use of digital agriculture tools are also necessary for effective implementation of digital agriculture.
The future of resilient food systems, food security, and economic wellbeing of rural communities depends on the advancement of digital tools and platforms that will allow for timely and data-informed decisions across the whole region. Therefore, the Digital Agriculture Knowledge Management Library will equip stakeholders with knowledge, best practices, and guides to develop, implement, and scale the use of agricultural digital tools and technologies.
Creating the Digital Agriculture Knowledge Management Library
DG’s long-held emphasis on co-design was especially helpful in developing the resources in the Digital Agriculture Knowledge Management Library. The resources were developed through collaborative ideation and validation with various IFAD stakeholders, including farmers, governments, and civil society organizations that are working with the DAS program to implement their digital agriculture systems.
Currently, the Digital Agriculture Knowledge Management Library has eight resources. An additional 16 resources will be developed by the DAS program. The available resources include, but are not limited, to:
- “Do it yourself” guides that provide accessible instructions on how to design and implement specific activities within digital agriculture programming;
- Policy guidelines on suggested requirements for creating policies on implementing and regulating digital agricultural tools and practices among rural farming communities; and
- Best practices and case studies, which dive deep into the processes and procedures that had positive outcomes when the DAS program implemented digital agriculture tools and systems in specific locations.
These resources are particularly aimed at supporting: government actors that are developing policies and programs to accelerate the use of digital agriculture; community-based, IFAD-funded programs that are doing the day-to-day work of implementing digital agriculture at the local level; and IFAD staff who are facilitating global learning on the use of digital tools across location.
Stakeholders are hungry to understand lessons learned in digital agriculture and build on what others have done. Having a simple, navigable site packed with case studies and guides can help fill this gap.
Beverley Hatcher-Mbu, DG's Deputy Director of Programs
Check out the Digital Agriculture Knowledge Management Library now and be on the lookout for additional resources being added in the future!
