It's the 7th Africa Agriculture Week (13-16 June 2016). And the event is taking place against the digital setting - portraying almost a complete media ambience of audio visuals - and a broadcasting type of environment through its proceedings.
It's agriculture in the new age, the age of using both information and technology to improve the quality of the industry output, with the aim of producing food in a smart way, and sustainable to feed the continent. What is fascinating is the application of technology (information technology) at the conference, which is a good sign that indeed it is possible to apply technology in agriculture.
Before the event started, "a ghost voice" as some refer to it in broadcasting ( a voice announcing the next event without seeing the person who is speaking) - requested the delegates to put hands together for the Director of Ceremonies, International Broadcaster Guru and former CNN Senior International Correspondent, Geoff Koinange on stage - as he would be the Director of Ceremonies for the event.
Delegates were able to watch the proceedings on big TV Monitors/screens - beaming clips on agribusiness and how farmers could successfully embrace science and technology in their day to farm farming activities.
There is a limited usage of paper - not only in the main plenary hall - but almost at all the side-events set-ups. Conference organizers have in advance informed all delegates that the various documentations including the concept notes, programmes and related information would be accessed on line.
Delegates including farmers were guided to down load various applications on their smart phones and laptop computers to make it easier for them to follow the conference.And in the age of young farmers, social media is critical - therefore, it must have been fun for many to apply ICT at the conference as they prepare to do just that for their businesses.
This author was actually surprised and at the same time appreciating the digitally managed event when she saw that the conference bags, traditionally distributed to delegates with various printed materials- programmes, maps of the various meeting venues, city and hotel accommodation only had a note book and a pen, that's all.
The event is therefore that of smart phones, laptops and related gadgets. The sitting arrangements include access to plugs, sockets and long leads to ensure that those in attendance can charge their electronica device and have access to the Forum For Agriclture Research in Africa, FARA website and related online platforms. WIFI is free almost across the Kigali Village and Exhibition Centre where all the official activities are taking place.
"Tweet, to inform the world about the 7th Africa Agriculture Science Week" roared the incredible deep broadcasting voice of Koinange. " And if you link me to your tweet through my hashtag, @Koinange, I will be able to share that to over 700 thousand followers", he added to an applausing audience.
How can farming be improved through science and technology to increase value-additional, deliver quality products which are sustainable to feed the the African population? This is one of the key questions delegates are grappling with at the event.
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| Picture contributed by Mrs Ugenia Shinohamba, a small holder farmer in Northern part of Namibia |
The event is taking place against the backdrop (theme) of applying science and impact livelihoods through innovation in agriculture. The event is actually taking place in the most appropriate City of Kigali, Rwanda, a country well known for its advancement in ICT. Rwanda has recently taken a drastic and revolutionizing decision when it allowed all African Nationals to enter its country without necessarily making prior arrangements for visas. Delegates to the Science week - had to apply their visas on line - or just to get them at the airport without prior notice. Kigali is also currently the most cleanest City in Africa, the status it recently snatched from Namibia's Capital City Windhoek. And from the onset, all delegates who had their luggage wrapped in plastic as part of the protection during the flights and luggage transfers had the plastics removed as the City does not allow such material in the its sovereignty. That tells a loud story in terms of recycling and related subjects.
The event has attracted all "the African Eagle flocking together for the secured nest of food security on the continent". When the Director of Ceremonies, Koinange wanted to to a quick assess as to whether all the continental geographical regions were represented, each region was at least represented, North, Central, West, East and Southern African.
As the delegates rounded off the conference, many thanked the conference organizers saying it was the first time some of them attended a FARA -paper-less conference, dominated more by audio-visual and digital materials.
The question now is, after the deliberations and recommendations, what next? How will each delegate ensure that his or her government mainstreams science in agriculture - and that the technology impacts the targeted producers/farmers. Many agree that the question of funding will only be addressed by the various African governments themselves and participants were urgent to find a way to convince their leaders to invest in science.
