If there is only one event you attend this year, it should be the international conference, ICT4Ag – the digital springboard for inclusive agriculture.

Cohosted by CTA and the Rwandan Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) and supported by an impressive array of international organisations listed below, this event offers participants the opportunity to discover exciting opportunities and cutting edge technologies. Representing the public and private sector in Africa, the Caribbean and Pacific and further afield, delegates will discuss how increased investment and adoption of ICTs in the agricultural sector will contribute to improved value chains as well as more effective advocacy and policy processes in agricultural and rural development. In addition, they will share ideas and knowledge, discuss new approaches, best practices and experiences. Issues related to ICT trends and their impact on ARD, capacity building, enabling environments, scaling up and sustainability will also be discussed.

The conference will take place in Kigali, Rwanda over three days (5-7 November, 2013). It will be preceded by a ‘Plug and Play Day’ (4 November) to discover and experience innovation, m-apps, web 2.0, social media pro and cutting edge ICT solutions in a truly informal environment. A 4-day hackathon will start on November 4 and run in parallel to the event. November 8 will be reserved for a field visit. An exhibition on ICT innovations for agriculture will be in place along the conference.

For more information, see: http://www.ict4ag.org

Associated organisations include Agri-ProFocus Rwanda, CGIAR, EU Delegation in Rwanda, Eastern Africa Farmers Federation (EAFF), FAO, Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), FHI 360, IFAD, IFPRI, IICD, ILRI, infoDev (World Bank), Indigenous Peoples of Africa Coordinating Committee (IPACC), KINU, the Rwandan Ministry of Youth and ICT (MYICT), NEPAD, Rwanda Telecentre Network (RTN), University of British Columbia Okanagan (UBC Okanagan), UNITAR, USAID, Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET), World Bank, and Yam Pukri Association.