Project Overview
On October 21, 2023, Tech Herfrica successfully launched its EquipHer4Growth program in Rinze Community, Akwanga Development Area, Nasarawa State. The program took 90 women through three key milestones of the EquipHer4Growth initiative: digital and financial literacy training, provision of smartphones, and access to new markets. The project garnered critical support from community leaders and traditional rulers, resulting in successful implementation and a sustainable impact.
As a follow-up to the program, and as a way to ensure Agric Scale Up in the community, Tech Herfrica on July 18, 2024, partnered with The Africa Rice Centre to train a selected number of farmers on how to get the best farming practices advice on rice sowing using their smartphones via the Rice Advice Lite App. This training was held in Lafia, Nasarawa state, by Africa Rice Centre, with 50 Extension Agents (EA)/ farmers trained as trainers.
The Agric Scale Up is one of Tech Herfrica’s innovative approaches that centres on specialised training and support tailored to empower rural farmers, especially women to improve agricultural productivity. The initiative’s key objective is to enhance agricultural productivity through the adoption of modern technologies, improved seed varieties, and best farming practices considering the effects of climate change. Using the train-the-trainer approach, these beneficiary farmers are expected to go back to their community and train other female rice farmers in their community on the use of the Rice Advice Lite for their rice farming. In this regard, Tech Herfrica sent 4 of its representatives, 3 of which were rice farmers and beneficiaries of EquipHer4Growth in their community. These 3 representatives are expected to train 50 more women in their communities and Tech Herfrica has already put in place the modalities to ensure the achievements of expected outcomes.
The training highlighted the use of the Rice Advice Lite App, how to properly enter data on the app, how best to apply the advice from the Rice Advice Lite App by the farmers, and how extension agents can use the Open Data Kit (ODK)App.
Needs Assessment Findings
A comprehensive pre-assessment session was carried out before the training, revealing the following key findings:
- Smartphone Ownership: All the 50 participants (100%) had access to smartphones.
- Awareness of Technology for Farming Advice/tips: Only 40% (20) of the participants knew they could use technology to get farming tips and advice, although all the participants knew about Google search.
- Use of Technology for Farming: Although 20% (10) of the participants had heard about the Rice Advice Lite, none of them had ever used it to assess farming information.
Training Session
The primary objective of the training was to empower female rice farmers in Rinze with the knowledge and ability to utilize the Rice Advice Lite app effectively to enhance agricultural productivity through the adoption of modern technologies, improved seed varieties, and best farming practices considering the effects of climate change. The training session encompassed the following key components:
- Rice Advice Lite App Proficiency: Participants were instructed on the proper use of the app, including inputting data, interpreting recommendations, and navigating its features.
- Data Collection and Analysis: The training emphasized how to utilize data generated from the Rice Advice Lite app within the ODK app for further analysis and insights.
- Practical Application of Recommendations: Participants were guided on how to translate the advice provided by the Rice Advice Lite app into actionable steps for their rice farms.
Program Outcomes
By the end of the program, the beneficiaries were able to:
- Effectively use the Rice Advice Lite app to access and apply agricultural best practices
- Collect and analyze agricultural data using the ODK app to make informed decisions.
- Implement evidence-based farming practices leading to increased rice yields and farm productivity.
- Leverage digital tools to improve their farming practices and contribute to the broader adoption of digital agriculture solutions in the region.
Conclusion
Tech Herfrica’s Agric Scale Up initiative successfully empowered farmers in the Rinze community by providing digital literacy training and access to the Rice Advice Lite app. The project is expected to significantly improve participants’ farming practices. This will lead to increased rice yields, enhanced decision-making, and a potential shift from subsistence to commercial farming.