The document discusses the need to transform agriculture in the SADC region through the use of information and communication technologies (ICT). It introduces AMEWI, an agricultural information system that provides a mobile app, web portal, SMS/USSD services, and call center to disseminate early warning information, market updates, and production information to various users including farmers, organizations, suppliers, and government departments. The system aims to address challenges in the agricultural sector like limited access to inputs, expensive logistics, lack of knowledge, and difficulties in communication and information sharing. Screenshots of the AMEWI app and website are provided.

1. ICT:THE
TRANSFORMATION OF
AGRICULTURE
Presented at FOFIFA Headquarters | 28 October, 2015 |
Ampandrianomby Antananarivo
Thato Supang
AgriBusiness Forum Botswana

2. Background
2
 The agriculture sector in the SADC
region is underperforming and
unsustainable.
 Agricultural industry in the SADC region
remains under-utilized and in terms of
markets, several impediments have
been identified;
- limited access to agricultural inputs,

3. 3
- expensive and time consuming logistics
to sell produce; failure to secure some
markets due to low volume produce,
- lack of knowledge in which commodities
to produce.
- Agricultural produce and income
continues to decline in the wake of
climate change.
- Communication and information sharing
is difficult and there is a gap in-between
stakeholders
Background

4. 4
Agriculture requires a transformation to
where every farmer is provided with access
to information, and because of the ever-
lower costs and growing ubiquity of ICT,
new avenues have been opened.
Need Statement

5. Dissemination and
Communication
5

6. What is AMEWI?
6
Agricultural Marketing and Early
Warning Information system.
• A mobile app
• A web portal
• SMS Service
• USSD service
• Call Centre

7. Value
 Call centre
 Farmer focus
 Youth Empowerment and employment
 Interactive
 E-learning
 Mobile phone access
7

8. Users
8
 Farmers (Youth, Commercial farmers,
Emerging farmers, Smallholder farmers)
 Farmer Organizations
 Commodity Organizations
 Input and machinery Suppliers
 NGO’s, CBO’s, Researchers, Universities etc

9. 9
 Government Departments
 Extension Services and development
agencies.
 Traders
Users

10. 10
 Markets
 Early Warning
• Production
Impact

11. AMEWI System
11
Website
Cell phone
(other devices and
applications)
AMEWI
-Early warning information
-Market updates and trading
-Production information
Call Centre
Users

12. 12
Services

13. Early warning information
13
 Early warning information on adverse climatic
condition (drought, floods, frost etc),
 Livestock and crop disease and pest outbreak.
 Veld fires

14. 14
 Real time market updates for all Fresh
Produce Market, grain and meat market
and prices.
 Auction (auctions and description of
animal traits, equipments and
properties)
 Transport and freight forwarders
(Logistics Companies)
Market information

15. Trading platform
15
 AMEWI is a trading platform between
farmers and traders as well as suppliers
of inputs, machineries and services.

16. Interactive communication tool
16
 Users are able to pose questions to
other users and System Administer on
technical challenges related to
agricultural production etc. A discussion
forum which is on a Social Media type of
setup.
 This will promote a dialogue amongst
role players in agricultural industry.

17. Extension directory
17
 Government and private extension
practitioners are listed and users are
able to email and call directly.
 Supplier of inputs, machineries and
irrigation equipments etc are listed in the
directory

18. Technical information
18
 Video training clips on technical aspects.
 Crop and livestock production
management.
 Enterprise budget (COMBUD)
 Fisheries
 Forestry
 Crop suitability
 Irrigation potential
 E-learning

19. Madagascar Implementation
19
 Partnership in Research and ICT
 Digital Agriculture Research
 Information Dissemination
 Communication – Early Warning Information
 Smallholder Farmer Inclusion

20. Conclusion
20
AMEWI will be able to survive in the long term due to the fact
that it is a need that the farming industry can no longer do
without.

21. Screenshots
21

22. Screenshots
22

23. Screenshots
23
Welcome to
AMEWI!
1.Markets
2.Inputs &
Services
3.Articles & News
Reply
MARKETS
1.Beef
2.Grain
3.Fresh
Reply
Beef Markets
Location
1. Lobatse
2. Francistown
3. Gantsi

24. 24
Thank You
Thato Supang
AgriBusiness Forum Botswana
Plot 104, Gaborone International Commerce Park,
Gaborone, Botswana.
Mobile: (+267) 7158 3564
Tel/Fax: (+267) 318 2614
Email: thatosupang@agribotswana.com
URLS: https://www.amewi.co.bw
www.agribotswana.com