NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

Monday, February 23, 2015

A new initiative has been launched to increase food security for small holder farmers in five regions in Ghana. The initiative – ICT Challenge – is a partnership between the Grameen Foundation, Farm Radio International and Digital Green.

Using extension agents, mobile apps, radio, video, text messaging and voice messages, the project will provide farmers with the information and support needed to adopt technology that increases their productivity and improves nutrition in their communities.

ICT Challenge is part of the New Alliance ICT Extension Challenge Fund, a component of the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition.

Food security is the target

“We are focused on increasing food security for smallholder farmers in Ghana using a number of different channels to reach farmers with vital information that they need in order to drive productivity and ultimately increase income,” said Hillary Miller-Wise, who oversees the Grameen Foundation’s portfolio across sub-Saharan Africa.

She said the three organizations will develop mobile applications, and leverage radio to reach farmers in five regions in central and southern Ghana.

Farm Radio International and Digital Green will help local institutions develop content on agricultural best practices and other relevant topics for distribution to 200,000 farming households in the Ashante, Brong Ahafo, Central, Eastern and Volta regions.