E-Agriculture and Agro-Mechanisation analytics and online agro-market

where villages are accessing e-agriculture and are monitoring their farming to strengthen their production capacity, sustainability and market their cash-oriented farm produce

pomwe midzi ikupezela uphungu wa ulimi pa intaneti ndi kuchita kalondolondo wa ulimi pofuna kuzama mu kalimidwe kokhazikika komanso kutsatsa zokolora

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First Farmers’ local information management and resource center of the Umodzi Farms platform commences as a Digital eco-Agro-Dealer in a Blantyre district’s peri-urban village close Michiru forest. The DECODER concept was developed in response to professional volunteers’ inability successfully to host the rural data collection platform and cyberspace. Harold Chitowe of Chitowe Green Technologies took the initiative to proceed with providing rural community internet, digital and data services in Mdala village after a preliminary assessment of the village social economic activities and valuation of agriculture. He found that a few households have jobs and businesses in the city as many of them rely on various small businesses and casual labour within, which slightly meet their income needs. To cushion income shocks, majority of the households encroach Michiru forest for firewood and soils for brick burning – which has contributed to immense deforestation of the mountain – which is undermining its economic value, leaving the community economically desperate. Only a few households have resorted to winter (irrigated) farming which is also facing challenges including rising cost of agri-inputs, lack of skills/knowledge and a narrow market base.

Summaries

From: Jonas Beyard, Nankhunda Transformation, Mgalamadzi village, Zomba

On 7 and 8 May 2022, we organized a video show on Newcastle disease management from Access Agriculture. The shows were attended by a total of 20 households. The show followed a Newcastle disease break out and our community’s failure to contain it. After a month, we assessed how we have applied the lessons learnt.

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On 2nd July, 2022, Mwanjema Community-based Organization was introduced to the Internet of Rural Communities. The CBO did not hesitate but to join the rural cyberspace and monitoring platforms. However, the CBO later found the cyberspace hard to host. Assessment indicated that the long-term benefits offered by the idea do not meet the expectations and desires of many experienced volunteers. Therefore, it becomes becomes unattractive and unnecessary, or even a burden.

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