1. ARDYIS Project: Promoting opportunities for youth in agriculture and ICTs Ken Lohento ICT4D Programme Coordinator CTA Wageningen, Nov 2012

2. CTA’s ICT4RD Programme Promoting and supporting use of innovative ICT tools and approaches Training Multistakeholder Policy debate implementation Awareness raising Information dissemination networking

3. Objectives Strengthen capacities on ICTs for ARD Contribute to sensitising on Agriculture and RD issues Target audience  young farmers  students in agricultural training courses  Youth interested in ICT for ARD Advisory Committee/ Partners Yam Pukri SPC CAFAN ARDYIS -- Launched in May 2010 Promoting opportunities for youth in agriculture and ICTs

4. Rationale Agriculture offer employment opportunities for youths. ICTs help to reach and promote agriculture to youth, contributing to reducing the ageing agricultural population ICTs offer new marketing tools to enhance more than in the past (youth-led) agricultural businesses; Youth spearhead ICT innovations that enhance Agriculture and Youth ICT specialists can enhance agriculture with their innovations (mobile applications (mAgri), market information systems, etc). ICT help to improve livelihoods in rural areas which faces rural exodus

5. ARDYIS Promoting opportunties for youth in agriculture and ICTs

6. Networking - Dissemination of information: (opportunities, etc.) and discussions website, dedicated mailing lists 890 followers on Facebook Training Some activities…. Ghana, 2010 Facilitate youth participation in Ag and ICT conferences & projects (IAALD, water management, FANRPAN projects, CTA 2012 Value chain conference etc.)

7. Advocacy document calling for stronger support for youth involvement in agriculture and ICT Some activities…. Consultation on youth, ICT-based entrepreneurship in agriculture, Addis Abeba, NEPAD collaboration, May 2012

8. Publication featuring succesful youths Some activities…. About 3000 public votes and comments for Yobloco Awards Institutional and individuals blogs awarded

9. Strengthening rural youth employment opportunities in agriculture and ICTs in Southern Africa (SOFIA project) 3 year project, facilitated by ARDYIS /Southern Africa region Targets: main young farmer groups, youth training centres in rural areas Case studies on youth entrepreneurship activities involving ICT and agriculture Training on ICT and agri-marketting; Free software business models, business management Monitoring of ICT use by farmer groups Policy discussion on ICTs Etc.

10. Thank you http://ardyis.cta.int http://www.facebook.com/ardyis lohento@cta.int