Microsoft, AGRA, partner to co-create technology solutions in agriculture to improve food security in Africa

Microsoft, AGRA, partner to co-create technology solutions in agriculture to improve food security in Africa

Microsoft through its business and market development engine in Africa, 4Afrika is partnering with the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA). The collaboration will see Microsoft co-create technology solutions in agriculture. Supporting AGRA’s digital transformation initiative to improve food security in Africa.

In a report, continued use of outdated technologies and practices is the biggest hurdle to increasing farmer productivity in Africa. Microsoft will therefore work with AGRA to build locally relevant technology solutions. Solutions that are mindful of challenges local farmers face says Microsoft 4Afrika director Amrote Abdella.

We’re excited to work with AGRA in building locally-relevant technology solutions that are mindful of challenges local farmers face. Offering solutions to farmers and policy makers alike to deliver meaningful impact.”

Amrote Abdella

The partnership is part of Microsoft’s ongoing investment in agritech across Africa. This year the company introduced a $100 million Africa Development Center investment with sites in Lagos and Nairobi. The center according to Microsoft will help to advance AI innovation in agriculture.

Technology to transform sector

The collaboration will see Microsoft supporting farmers to adopt new technologies through digital training. As well as help them develop digital skills in agriculture through an internship program. Microsoft will also support policy advocacy and government engagement around the design of national agriculture digitization strategies in the region.

Agriculture is a priority sector of investment for us not only because it sustains some 70 percent of livelihoods. But because we believe technology can significantly contribute to the transformation of the sector.

Africa has many farmers with varying farming practices. We believe technology can augment this knowledge to improve crop yields.

Amrote Abdella

Microsoft will begin to expand its FarmBeats initiative across Africa, having piloted it in Kenya.

AGRA’s digital transformation in agriculture wants to improve food security for about 30 million farming households across 11 African countries by 2021. These are Ghana, Nigeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Malawi and Mozambique.

AGRA president, Dr. Agnes Kalibata says “digital technologies are now firmly with us. It is increasingly important that we keep finding use of such innovations in our farms“.

Going forward, digitalization will transcend every sphere of our life and it is highly likely that most of our farming investments will gain more yields as a result.
Overall, with more innovation, farmer-centric products and services can now be deployed with great success. The goal, ultimately, is to adopt digital technologies in ways that positively impact whole agricultural and food systems
.”

Dr. Kalibata
Digital Education can Empower the next generation, shares Chinenye Ezeakor, Microsoft Nigeria EPA

Digital Education can Empower the next generation, shares Chinenye Ezeakor, Microsoft Nigeria EPA

Digital Education can empower the next generation, Chinenye Ezeakor Microsoft Nigeria Education Programs Assistant shares her thoughts on how.  

Digital Education  

Chinenye talks about how digital literacy can be a catalyst for the curious youth in this generation and the next. She says the truth of the matter is we live in a digital world and companies of all sizes have a growing need for technology experts. There’s a huge need to get more African youths, including girls, into STEM subjects, particularly technology and computing. 

When the education system provides students with the skills they need to thrive, they are more likely to stay and help their country prosper, rather than migrating for better educational or economic opportunities. 

As Education Programs Assistant for Microsoft Nigeria, Chinenye Ezeakor and the Education Programs team push for greater digital literacy in Nigeria’s schools through the Microsoft Imagine Academy initiative. She says this kind of support is particularly vital in developing countries. When the education system provides students with the skills they need to thrive, they are more likely to stay and help their country prosper, rather than migrating for better educational or economic opportunities.

Digital Education must be practical 

An electrical and electronic engineering graduate from University of Port Harcourt, Chinenye says to fight the trend, you’ve got to start early to foster interests in STEM.  Children love to get hands-on, whether they are building sandcastles or playing with Lego. So it’s essential that we translate STEM subjects into practical, hands-on experiences. Due to the type of educational system, we don’t really get to experiment with science. When you can’t see the practical application of something in real-life, you’re not going to see the relevance or the possibilities it might hold for you. 

It is essential that we translate STEM subjects into practical experiences. 
When you can’t see the practical application of something in real-life, you’re not going to see the possibilities it holds.

This takes on an added level of urgency when you consider how important digital technologies are becoming to Africa’s prosperity and growth. A few years ago, people in Nigeria were unsure about using e-commerce; now it’s a huge component of our economy. This is partly due to the rapid pace at which mobile technology is evolving in Africa, but it also comes down to digital literacy. 

Read more on Chinenye Ezeakor’s take on Digital Education and how it can cause economic growths. What’s you take on digital literacy and how it can impact our lives. Do join the conversation and share your thoughts in the comments. 

Microsoft Nigeria hosts Empowering Digital Transformation Summit in Lagos

Microsoft Nigeria hosts Empowering Digital Transformation Summit in Lagos

Microsoft Nigeria held a summit in Lagos to help businesses in Nigeria leverage Microsoft’s technologies in this era of digital Transformation.

digital transformation

The summit was held in Lagos and themed Empowering Digital Transformation. It was to help improve the capabilities of businesses in Nigeria by allowing them take advantage of Microsoft technology platforms in the areas of business intelligence, cloud, mobile, social and productivity.

At Microsoft, we know that the emergence of the digital age is fundamentally changing the priorities and roles of today’s Business executives. We also understand that this evolution is enabling businesses do more, by adopting key technologies in the areas of business intelligence, cloud, mobile, social and productivity.

The Empowering Digital Summit brought other stakeholders to share on the latest innovative technology trends and industry solutions. The Speakers of the event included Karim Ramadan (Microsoft Nigeria General Manger), Beny Rubinstein (Director Solutions Sales, Middle East & Africa), Keynote speaker Uzoma Dozie (CEO, Diamond Bank Plc). There were break out sessions and panel discussions on topics relating to Technology and Digital Transformation in various situations.

Here are highlights from speakers of the summit;

Customers make decisions from what they see online. You don’t do Digital Transformation because it is cool but you have to do it. Engage your customers, transform your products, empower your employees and optimize your operations. – Karim Ramadan

Technology is the only major driver of emerging Economics. What does going digital transformation do for your leadership ? It gives you more control, power, freedom and keeps you in touch. – Uzoma Dozie

Invest to Balance across short term and long term opportunities. Find a new way to do new things, not a new way to do old things. Digital transformation is the conversation to have today. – Beny Rubinstein

Take a look at some images from the Summit;

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Follow the digital Transformation conversation on social media via the hashtag #DigitalTransformationNG

 

Photo Credit @MicrosoftNG & @Penzaarville