Geographic Information and Communication Technologies for Supporting Smallholder Agriculture and Climate Resilience

Abstract

Multiple factors constrain smallholder agriculture and farmers’ adaptive capacities under changing climates, including access to information to support context appropriate farm decision-making. Current approaches to geographic information dissemination to smallholders, such as the rural extension model, are limited, yet advancements in internet and communication technologies (ICTs) could help augment these processes through the provision of agricultural geographic information (AGI) directly to farmers. We analysed recent ICT initiatives for communicating climate and agriculture-related information to smallholders for improved livelihoods and climate change adaptation. Through the critical analysis of initiatives, we identified opportunities for the success of future AGI developments. We systematically examined 27 AGI initiatives reported in academic and grey literature (e.g., organisational databases). Important factors identified for the success of initiatives include affordability, language(s), community partnerships, user collaboration, high quality and locally-relevant information through low-tech platforms, organisational trust, clear business models, and adaptability. We propose initiatives should be better-targeted to deliver AGI to regions in most need of climate adaptation assistance, including SE Asia, the Pacific, and the Caribbean. Further assessment of the most effective technological approaches is needed. Initiatives should be independently assessed for evaluation of their uptake and success, and local communities should be better-incorporated into the development of AGI initiatives.

Setting the Record Straight on Precision Agriculture Adoption

“…), and other plantations. Government and philanthropically funded projects are offering information and communication technologies and web/phone based agricultural information to farmers throughout the developing world (Haworth et al, 2018). Entrepreneurs are starting to offer sensor, drone, and data analysis services to farmers (Ekekwe, 2017).…”

Analysis of Seasonal Precipitation, Potential Evapotranspiration, Aridity, Future Precipitation Anomaly and Major Crops at District Level of India

“…Remote sensing and GIS and recent free online crop and weather datasets provide great opportunity to understand crop productivity at a site-specific scale when integrated with seasonal climate predictions and offer tangible solutions in terms of resilience to farmers (Jimenez and Ramirez-Villegas 2018). Such a GIS framework would provide scientific understanding to attain sustainable solutions in climate change reality and mitigate future risks (Haworth et al 2018).…”

Colonialism and the Agikuyu Women Indigenous Knowledge Systems on Food Crop Production in Kiambu Kenya 1902-1918

“…The semi-arid plain of Ndeiya and Karai area of Kikuyu had volcanic soil and rocks that were unsuitable for sustainable growth of their indigenous food crops and this may have led to neglect of some of the AWIKS in food crop production. Geographic variability in climate together with low levels of coping and adaptive capacity resulted in high levels of vulnerability for marginalized subsistence farmers (Biggs et al 2018) In line with the respondents' observations, Elkins (2005) pointed out that many Europeans especially the settlers wanted to farm in Kiambu because the land was ideal for coffee growing. They initially acquired 640 acres of the land per person as it was provided for in the Crown Land policy of 1902 but this was soon expanded to 1,000 acres of land per person while some acquired more land using the names of their children, wives and other relatives.…”