Rwanda is set to host an international ICT conference for agriculture in November, according to the countrys minister for agriculture
The ICT4Ag conference, which will be held in Kigali, Rwanda from November 4 to 8, will provide a forum for attendees to discuss how best to apply ICT in the agricultural sector.
According to Dr Agnes Kalibata, Rwanda's minister for agriculture, there will be a particular emphasis on the value chain, advocacy and policy development.
Kalibata, speaking during a planning meeting in Kigali, added that delegates at the conference will also discuss ICT trends and their impact on agriculture, rural development capacity building and sustainability.
"Rwanda has different programmes in place to address agricultural challenges using ICTs but this is not enough, we have to learn from others but also come up with new ideas to have more ICT innovations in agriculture," Kalibata was quoted as saying by Rwanda's New Times.
ICT4Ag, which is being organised in conjunction with the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA), will welcome over 400 public and private sector delegates from across Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific.
Rwanda's minister for youth and ICT, Jean Philbert Nsengimana, highlighted the issue that there is still not a high enough level of access to ICT facilities available in rural areas.
"Farmers are willing to embrace ICT, all we need to do is put up education and awareness raising programmes," said Nsengimana, who added that the increased use of ICT in agriculture could lead to more jobs, greater efficiency and higher incomes.
