E-agriculture Strategy Guide - Piloted in Asia-Pacific countries

21 May 2016. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), together with support from partners including the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA), have developed the E-agriculture Strategy Guide - Piloted in Asia-Pacific countries (FAO/ITU, Bangkok, 2016, 222 pages). 

This publication provides a framework for countries in developing their national e-agriculture strategies. These strategies would include an e-agriculture vision, an action plan, and a framework by which results can be monitored and evaluated. Like all strategies and plans, the outcomes of these processes are not static and changes in a country’s strategic context will require a dynamic approach to updating the strategy so that it remains relevant.

Setting in place a national e-agriculture strategy is an essential first step for any country planning on using ICTs for agriculture. While the need for e-agriculture strategies is acknowledged by many stakeholders, most countries have yet to adopt a strategic approach in making the best use of ICT developments in agriculture. E-agriculture strategies will help to rationalize both financial and human resources, and address holistically the ICT opportunities and challenges of the agricultural sector while generating new revenues and improving the lives of people in rural communities. It will also help ensure that the goals of national agricultural plans are achieved.

See also: E-agriculture Strategy brochure