CCARDESA Mobile Learning Application Cheers Extension Staff in Zambia

28 Aug 2020

By Dorcas Kabuya

Agricultural Extension personnel in the agricultural sector are the first to come to know the challenges faced by the farmers as they interact almost daily. For this reason, they must be kept abreast with the latest agricultural information to be effective in their delivery of services to the farmers.

In striving to be the Agricultural Knowledge Hub of Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states, the Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development in Southern Africa (CCARDESA), is doing everything possible to ensure extension staff are well equipped with information. One of CCARDESA's core mandate is to improve agricultural technology generation, dissemination and adoption in the region through collective efforts, training and capacity building. This objective has been realised through the development of various communication platforms, such as the CCARDESA Mobile Learning Application.

Indeed the promotion and awareness creation of the Mobile App could not have come at a better time than when the world is in 'lockdown mode' due to the coronavirus, leaving only Information, Communication Technologies (ICTs) such as a mobile phone as a means of accessing information.

Speaking during the CCARDESA Mobile App promotion in Zambia, held at Mika Hotel, on 26th August 2020, the Director of Agriculture, Mr Moses Mwale said that ICTs in this digital age have claimed some huge space and proven beyond a reasonable doubt that they are a game-changer irrespective of the sector or industry. Mr Mwale is delighted that the CCARDESA Mobile App allows the extension to share agricultural information with Farmers while both online and offline. He intimated that this places CCARDESA at an advantage in fulfilling its mandate of information sharing with stakeholders at both national and regional levels. "As you might be aware, the 2018 National ICT Survey conducted by Zambia Information Communication and Technology Authority (ZICTA) found out that about 84% of Zambians are now able to access and use mobile phones for communication, performing and accessing various e-services among others," he added.

Mr Mwale thanked CCARDESA for introducing the Mobile Learning App initiative and urged the organisation to continue introducing more innovative ways, which would significantly contribute to boosting agricultural productivity and diversifying production.

"I can assure you that government, through Ministry of Agriculture, will continue to foster collaboration with CCARDESA and ensure that the developments in the agricultural sector trickle down to all SADC member states, I, therefore, urge you all to tell your colleagues who could not be a part of this meeting about the CCARDESA mobile APP so that we are at the same wavelength," he emphasised.

Mr Mwale said this in his speech read on his behalf by Mr Stanislus Chisakuta, Deputy Director responsible for Technical Services Branch in the Ministry of Agriculture.

The Zambian extension staff were drawn from Chilanga, Chongwe and Kafue Districts. Joseph Kamfwa, one of the participants from Chilanga District, notes that the CCARDESA Mobile APP if harnessed well can lead to the increased adoption rate of climate-smart agriculture practices, thereby making agriculture sustainable. "Agriculture like any other sector is dynamic, and as extension officers, we need to be well-read to provide the much-needed information to farmers, especially small-scale farmers who usually lag in accessing the right and correct information". says Mr Kamfwa.

Jacobina Mulenga, another participant from Kafue District, describes the Mobile APP as an exciting tool which refreshes her mind and gives detail on some of the pertinent issues she learnt whilst at college. "The CCARDESA Mobile APP is easy to use, and I will ensure that other extension staff download it and share with their farmers in their various agricultural camps," Ms Mulenga explains.

Kudos to CCARDESA for this great innovation as we continue living in a world where technology has infiltrated every sphere of our lives, making mobile phones and human beings almost inseparable.