Designing Technology Adoption Frameworks for Marginalized Rural Communities. A Case Study of Small-Scale Farmers in South Africa Using Design Science Research
Designing Technology Adoption Frameworks for Marginalized Rural Communities. A Case Study of Small-Scale Farmers in South Africa Using Design Science Research

Author: Agyei Fosu

Publisher: GRIN Verlag

Published: 2024-06-27

Total Pages: 76

ISBN-13: 3389041079

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Document from the year 2024 in the subject Computer Science - Commercial Information Technology, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (School of Information Technology), language: English, abstract: In this book, the author demonstrates how Design Science Research (DSR) approach can be used to design a tailor-made technology adoption assessment framework to gauge small-scale farmers found in developing nations' marginalised rural communities' adoption of ICT. The book presents a practical approach to illustrate the implementation process by using small-scale farmers found in the deeply isolated rural areas of Amathole District Municipality (ADM) of South Africa as a case study. The electronic environment (e-environment) created by the digital age continues to see the adoption of various technologies like Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) by individuals, nations, and organisations to facilitate development, effectiveness, efficiency, enhance productivity and business opportunities. Technology adoption assessment emerged alongside the rapid adoption of technology in the digital age as a tool to evaluate the factors or determinants that influence and contribute to technology adoption. In the case of developing nations rural societies, because of the socio-economic dynamics of the marginalised rural communities, the design of the assessment tools to gauge technology adoption should capture factors such as suitability, relevance of the technology as well as local context and capacity, social implications, and availability of resources to address the unique challenges faced by the region. This makes the design of technology adoption assessment tools to gauge adoption of technology among marginalised communities in developing countries to follow a tailor-made approach.

Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization: A Framework for Africa
Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization: A Framework for Africa

Author: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org.

Published: 2019-03-13

Total Pages: 150

ISBN-13: 9251308713

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This framework presents ten interrelated principles/elements to guide Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization in Africa (SAMA). Further, it presents the technical issues to be considered under SAMA and the options to be analysed at the country and sub regional levels. The ten key elements required in a framework for SAMA are as follows: The analysis in the framework calls for a specific approach, involving learning from other parts of the world where significant transformation of the agricultural mechanization sector has already occurred within a three-to-four decade time frame, and developing policies and programmes to realize Africa’s aspirations of Zero Hunger by 2025. This approach entails the identification and prioritization of relevant and interrelated elements to help countries develop strategies and practical development plans that create synergies in line with their agricultural transformation plans. Given the unique characteristics of each country and the diverse needs of Africa due to the ecological heterogeneity and the wide range of farm sizes, the framework avoids being prescriptive.

SMALL-SCALE FAMILY FARMING IN THE NEAR EAST AND NORTH AFRICA REGION
SMALL-SCALE FAMILY FARMING IN THE NEAR EAST AND NORTH AFRICA REGION

Author: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org.

Published: 2018-08-09

Total Pages: 185

ISBN-13: 9251095027

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This report provides an overview of a study conducted in the NENA region in 2015-2016 in partnership with FAO, CIRAD, CIHEAM-IAMM and six national teams, each of which prepared a national report. In the six countries under review in the NENA region (Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, Mauritania, Sudan and Tunisia), agriculture is carried out primarily by small-scale family farmers, the majority of whom run the risk of falling into the poverty trap, largely due to the continuous fragmentation of inherited landholdings. As such, the development of small-scale family farming can no longer be based solely on intensifying agriculture, as the farmers are not able to produce sufficient marketable surplus due to the limited size of their landholdings. An approach based strictly on agricultural activity is also insufficient (as small-scale family farms have already diversified their livelihoods with off-farm activities). In fact, developing small-scale farming cannot be achieved by focusing strictly on t he dimension of production.

The New Harvest
The New Harvest

Author: Calestous Juma

Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA

Published: 2015

Total Pages: 355

ISBN-13: 0190237236

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African agriculture is currently at a crossroads, at which persistent food shortages are compounded by threats from climate change. But, as this book argues, Africa can feed itself in a generation and can help contribute to global food security. To achieve this Africa has to define agriculture as a force in economic growth by advancing scientific and technological research, investing in infrastructure, fostering higher technical training, and creating regional markets.

Proceedings of the International Symposium on Agricultural Innovation for Family Farmers
Proceedings of the International Symposium on Agricultural Innovation for Family Farmers

Author: Food and Agriculture Organization

Publisher: Food & Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO)

Published: 2019-08-15

Total Pages: 119

ISBN-13: 9789251315040

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This first International Symposium on Agricultural Innovation for Family Farmers called for inclusive research and education systems to facilitate innovation; robust bridging institutions; support to family farmers; and integrated policies and increased investments to create an enabling environment for innovation and scaling up. Innovation is the process whereby individuals or organizations bring new or existing products, processes or ways of organization into use for the first time in a specific context. Innovation in agriculture cuts across all dimensions of the production cycle along the entire value chain - from crop, forestry, fishery or livestock production to the management of inputs and resources to market access. The symposium provided inspiration for innovation actors and decision makers to unlock the potential of innovation to drive socio-economic growth, ensure food and nutrition security, alleviate poverty, improve resilience to changing environments and thereby achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Digitalisation of African Agriculture Report 2018–2019
The Digitalisation of African Agriculture Report 2018–2019

Author: Tsan, Michael

Publisher: CTA

Published: 2019-06-30

Total Pages: 241

ISBN-13: 9290816570

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An inclusive, digitally-enabled agricultural transformation could help achieve meaningful livelihood improvements for Africa’s smallholder farmers and pastoralists. It could drive greater engagement in agriculture from women and youth and create employment opportunities along the value chain. At CTA we staked a claim on this power of digitalisation to more systematically transform agriculture early on. Digitalisation, focusing on not individual ICTs but the application of these technologies to entire value chains, is a theme that cuts across all of our work. In youth entrepreneurship, we are fostering a new breed of young ICT ‘agripreneurs’. In climate-smart agriculture multiple projects provide information that can help towards building resilience for smallholder farmers. And in women empowerment we are supporting digital platforms to drive greater inclusion for women entrepreneurs in agricultural value chains.

Achieving Zero Hunger
Achieving Zero Hunger

Author: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org.

Published: 2018-06-05

Total Pages: 39

ISBN-13: 9251088861

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This report provides estimates of investment costs, both public and private, required to eliminate chronic dietary energy deficits, or to achieve zero hunger by 2030. This target is consistent with achieving both the Sustainable Development Goal 2, to eliminate hunger by 2030, and the Sustainable Development Goal 1, to eradicate poverty. The report adopts a reference “baseline” scenario, reflecting a “business-as-usual” situation, to estimate the additional investment requirements. In this scenario, around 650 million people will still suffer from hunger in 2030. The investment requirements to eliminate hunger by 2030 are then estimated. Hunger is eliminated through a combination of social protection and targeted “pro-poor “ investments. The first component aims to bring the poor immediately above the extreme poverty line through social protection by a “transfer to cover the poverty gap” (PGT) The second component involves additional investment required to stimulate and to sustain higher pro-poor growth of incomes and employment than in the business-as-usual scenario. This would, in turn, reduce the need for social protection to cover the PGT. The analysis is complemented by looking at alternative ways to achieve zero hunger by 2030.

Grassroots Innovation
Grassroots Innovation

Author: Anil K Gupta

Publisher: Random House India

Published: 2016-07-20

Total Pages: 299

ISBN-13: 8184007795

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A moral dilemma gripped Professor Gupta when he was invited by the Bangladeshi government to help restructure their agricultural sector in 1985. He noticed how the marginalized farmers were being paid poorly for their otherwise unmatched knowledge. The gross injustice of this constant imbalance led Professor Gupta to found what would turn into a resounding social and ethical movement—the Honey Bee Network—bringing together and elevating thousands of grassroots innovators. For over two decades, Professor Gupta has travelled through rural lands unearthing innovations by the ranks—from the famed Mitti Cool refrigerator to the footbridge of Meghalaya. He insists that to fight the largest and most persistent problems of the world we must eschew expensive research labs and instead, look towards ordinary folk. Innovation—that oft-flung around word—is stripped to its core in this book. Poignant and personal, Grassroots Innovation is an important treatise from a social crusader of our time.

Farming Systems Research into the 21st Century: The New Dynamic
Farming Systems Research into the 21st Century: The New Dynamic

Author: Ika Darnhofer

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2012-05-30

Total Pages: 488

ISBN-13: 9400745036

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Farming Systems Research has three core characteristics: it builds on systems thinking, it depends on the close collaboration between social and biophysical sciences, and it relies on participation to build co-learning processes. Farming Systems Research posits that to contribute towards sustainable rural development, both interdisciplinary collaborations and local actor engagement are needed. Together, they allow for changes in understanding and changes in practices. This book gives an overview of the insights generated in 20 years of Farming Systems Research. It retraces the emergence and development of Farming Systems Research in Europe, summarises the state-of-the-art for key areas, and provides an outlook on new explorations, especially those tackling the dynamic nature of farming systems and their interaction with the natural environment and the context of action.

Working with Smallholders
Working with Smallholders

Author: World Bank

Publisher: World Bank Publications

Published: 2023-11-09

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9781464819629

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"Smallholder farmers are the stewards of more than 80 percent of the world's farms. These small family businesses produce about one-third of the world's food. In Africa and Asia, smallholders dominate the production of food crops, as well as export commodities such as cocoa, coffee, and cotton. However, smallholders and farm workers remain among the poorest segments of the population, and they are on the frontline of climate change. Smallholder farmers face constraints in accessing inputs, finance, knowledge, technology, labor, and markets. Raising farm-level productivity in a sustainable way is a key development priority. Agribusinesses are increasingly working with smallholder farmers in low- and middle-income countries to secure agricultural commodities. More productive smallholders boost rural incomes and economic growth, as well as reduce poverty. Smallholders also represent a growing underserved market for farm inputs, information, and financial services. Working with Smallholders: A Handbook for Firms Building Sustainable Supply Chains (third edition) shows agribusinesses how to engage more effectively with smallholders and to develop sustainable, resilient, and productive supply chains. The book compiles practical solutions and cutting-edge ideas to overcome the challenges facing smallholders. This third edition is substantially revised from the second edition and incorporates new material on the potential for digital technologies and sustainable farming. This handbook is written principally to outline opportunities for the private sector. The content may also be useful to the staffs of governmental or nongovernmental development programs working with smallholders, as well as to academic and research institutions."--