eLearning Africa will hold special programme of seminars, discussions and debates about learning and training for Africa’s farming and food sector
The decision reflects the continuing importance of agriculture in African economies, together with new opportunities and challenges for African food producers in an era of rapid technological change.
Rebecca Stromeyer, founder of eLearning Africa, said, “Farming and food production currently employ more than 40 per cent of the continent’s workforce, more than 70 per cent of whom are women. Communications technology is making a huge difference to farming in Africa, delivering information and training about prices, markets, sources of finance, farm business development, crop management, animal husbandry, health, ecology, climate change, new ways of fighting diseases and a host of other matters.”
Dr Harold Elletson, editor of the eLearning Africa report, who will head the eLA Agriculture Track, commented, “What is happening in African farming now is important for the whole world, not just for Africa. The continent is rich in resources. It can easily feed its own people, but it can also become a major exporter of high-quality produce.”
“The world has much to learn from Africa and the way in which young people are trained to manage the continent’s resources in the future could stand as an example at a time when the whole world is facing the twin challenges of population growth and climate change.”
Stromeyer announced that eLearning Africa has issued a call for papers from anyone interested in participating in this year’s conference, which will take place in Abidjan, the capital of Cote d’Ivoire from 23-25 October 2019.
Some of the major themes are education and sustainable food production, agriculture training, the role of ICTs in improving training, knowledge management and access, partnerships and collaboration and protecting the environment.
