CTA, UNIPORT conclude Web 2.0 social media course

NaijaAgroNet:

The University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) and The Netherlands-based Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA), have concluded a four-day training course on Web 2.0 social media, reports NaijaAgroNet.

The learning opportunities, NaijaAgroNet gathered is the second training progarmme being jointly hosted by UNIPORT and CTA under the theme: “Web 2.0 social media learning opportunities training course.”

This year’s programmed which lasted between October 20 through 24, 2014, NaijaAgroNet also learnt has its primary objective to equip participants with a research and collaboration tool that would facilitate their adoption and dissemination of simple and replicable internet–based technologies and applications.

NaijaAgroNet gathered that the participants were drawn from institutions of higher learning and Research Institutes in South-East and South-South geopolitical zones of Nigeria. 

The opening ceremony which took place at the Elsevier e-Learning room, Donald Ekong Library of the University on the first day was declared open by the Vice Chancellor, UNIPORT, Prof. Joseph Atubokiki Ajineka.

+Remmy Nweke @NaijaAgroNet +Lohento Ken +CTA Brussels +Johnson Opigo @UNIPORT  @DigitalSENSEng @Nkemdilim Nweke @FMARD +Remmy Nweke (ITRealms)

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CTA collaborate AYE on Girls in ICT Day 2014

NaijaAgroNet

In the context of the International Girls in ICT Day, plans have been conclude by the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) in collaboration with the African Youth Foundation (AYF) is organising an e-debate entitled “Enhancing Young Women’s engagement in ICT and Agriculture” on the ARDYIS discussion group (http://dgroups.org/groups/youth) from 16^th April – 7^th May 2014, reports NaijaAgroNet.

During the three weeks e-debate, NaijaAgroNet gathered that several themes and questions will be addressed and some key matter experts from different organisations will be participating in the debate and answering to youth’s questions.

NaijaAgroNet recollects that in 2011, the International Communication Union (ITU) launched the ‘Girls and ICT Day’ to celebrate girls’ interests and strengths in Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), and to encourage them to choose a career in this area. Since then, it is being celebrated on the 4th Thursday in April, through different events organised globally.

Some of the objectives of this e-debate are to “Discuss the objectives and the use of ICT by young girls and women in the agricultural sector and share experiences from various ACP countries.”

Alos CTA officials revealed that to discuss the opportunities, challenges faced and perspectives regarding the use of ICT by young women in agriculture or ICT entrepreneurs offering services for the agricultural sector; and contribute to the celebration of the International Girls in ICT Day.

Further, NaijaAgroNet learnt that the primary target group for this e-debate are youths  between the ages of 15 and 35 years) interested or involved in ICT or Agriculture, especially young girls and women.

This includes women agropreneurs and women developing ICT solutions for agriculture. Organisations supporting young women in these activities are also targeted. Finally, any person or organisation interested or working in this area is most welcomed to join the debate.

Isaac

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'Mobile phones indispensable to smallholder farmers transformation'

NaijaAgroNet:

Director, Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation, Mr. Michael Hailu has described Information and communication technology (ICT) tools as an indispensable to the transformation of small holder farmers reports NaijaAgroNet.

He made this known to NaijaAgroNet, at a recent conference on ICTs in agriculture in Kigali, Rwanda, which ended at the weekend.

Pan Africa News Agency (PANA) reports that the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) is a joint ACP-EU institution active in agricultural and rural development in ACP countries, with the mission to advance food and nutritional security, increase prosperity and encourage sound natural resource management in ACP countries.

Hailu was quoted as saying that on this continent, 65 per cent of the workforce is employed in agriculture and the sector generates 32 per cent of Gross domestic products - GDP. Smallholder farmers, mostly women, produce 80 per cent of Africa’s food,

African countries, he said, spend up to US$ 50 billion a year on food imports, stressing that with abundant land, water and cheap labour, there is no good reason why Africa should import so much food.

“Yet there’s good reason to be optimistic. After years of neglect, governments and the private sector are increasing investments in agriculture,' Hailu said.

To achieve its full potential, he posited that smallholder agriculture must be transformed from a subsistence activity to a profitable, sustainable business and ICTs play a vital role in this transformation.

"They provide timely advice and information. They help farmers increase productivity. They make markets more efficient. And they increase incomes," he said.

Emphasising that in 2000, there were just 16.5 million mobile subscriptions in Africa, 13 years later, there are over 650 million.

"Indeed, the number of people on the continent with access to mobile phones exceeds the number with access to clean water, electricity or a bank account” he said.

NaijaAgroNet recalls that ICT4Ag held under the theme 'The Digital Springboard for Inclusive Agriculture´ Conference, was hosted by CTA, the Rwandan Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) as well as the Ministry of Youth and ICTs (MYICT).

Isaac Oyimah with agency reports/GEE
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Pix: Director, Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation, Mr. Michael Hailu