GeoAgro - MiSR -: Yield Gap Analysis Tool

GeoAgro is a digital platform developed by ICARDA, designed to assist smallholder farmers. It offers a range of services including agronomy insights, weather updates, expert consultations, field-specific information, and a marketplace for buying and selling. It also provides financial advice, livestock management, water management solutions, and information about seeds and varieties. GeoAgro aims to optimize resource use, enhance agronomic gains, and support Egypt’s digital transformation agenda. It respects user privacy and contributes to ICARDA’s mission to address global challenges like climate change.

This technology is pre-validated.

8•7

Scaling readiness: idea maturity 8/9; level of use 7/9

Adults 18 and over: Positive medium

The poor: Positive low

Under 18: Positive high

Women: Positive low

Farmer climate change readiness: Moderate improvement

Problem

Knowledge Gap: Lack of access to crucial information such as agronomy insights, weather updates, and expert advice.
Market Limitations: Difficulty in accessing markets to buy and sell products.
Financial Challenges: Lack of financial literacy and access to financial services.
Inefficient Resource Use: Inefficient use of resources like water and seeds, leading to sub-optimal agronomic yields.
Climate Change: The adverse effects of climate change on farming practices and crop yield.

Solution

Bridging the Knowledge Gap: GeoAgro provides a wealth of information to farmers, including agronomy insights, weather updates, and the ability to consult with experts. This helps to bridge the knowledge gap in farming practices.
Overcoming Market Limitations: GeoAgro features a marketplace where farmers can buy and sell products, thereby improving their access to markets and overcoming market limitations.
Addressing Financial Challenges: GeoAgro offers financial advice and services, helping farmers to improve their financial literacy and gain access to necessary financial services.
Optimizing Resource Use: GeoAgro provides specific information related to the user’s field and offers solutions for managing resources like water and seeds. This helps farmers to optimize their resource use and achieve better agronomic outcomes.
Mitigating Climate Change Effects: GeoAgro is part of ICARDA’s mission to address global challenges like climate change. It provides resources and advice to help farmers adapt their practices to mitigate the effects of climate change on farming practices and crop yield.

Key points to design your project

GeoAgro Digital significantly contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by enhancing agricultural productivity (SDG 2: Zero Hunger) through optimized farm management practices. It promotes gender equality (SDG 5: Gender Equality) by empowering women farmers with access to tailored agricultural information, thereby improving their decision-making capacity and economic independence. Additionally, GeoAgro supports climate action (SDG 13: Climate Action) by providing data-driven insights that help farmers adapt to changing climatic conditions, thus increasing resilience and sustainability in agriculture. This integration of technology ensures that agricultural practices are more efficient, equitable, and climate-resilient.

To scale the use of GeoAgro beyond Egypt into other African countries, follow these practical steps:

Initial Assessment:
- Identify target countries with similar agricultural challenges and climatic conditions.
- Conduct a needs assessment to understand local farming practices and constraints.
Local Partnerships:
- Establish collaborations with local agricultural institutions, research organizations, and government bodies to facilitate the introduction and adaptation of GeoAgro.
Training and Capacity Building:
- Train local extension workers and field coordinators on the use of GeoAgro for data collection, analysis, and decision-making.
- Organize workshops and demonstration sessions for farmers to illustrate the benefits and functionalities of the app.
Customization and Localization:
- Adapt the GeoAgro app to local languages and farming practices to ensure it meets the specific needs of farmers in each country.
- Integrate region-specific data, such as soil types, weather patterns, and crop varieties.
Infrastructure Support:
- Ensure access to smartphones and reliable internet connections for seamless app usage in rural areas.
- Provide offline functionalities for regions with limited internet connectivity.
Promotion and Awareness Campaigns:
- Develop and distribute educational materials like flyers, videos, and radio broadcasts to raise awareness about GeoAgro’s benefits.
- Engage local media and community leaders to promote the technology.
Continuous Monitoring and Feedback:
- Set up a system for regular feedback from users to identify and address any issues promptly.
- Monitor the adoption rates and effectiveness of the recommendations provided by the app.
Sustainable Business Models:
- Explore sustainable business models to ensure the long-term viability of GeoAgro, such as subscription services or partnerships with agro-input suppliers.

By systematically implementing these steps, GeoAgro can be effectively scaled across different African countries, improving agricultural productivity and sustainability.

IP

Unknown

Countries with a green colour: Tested & adopted
Countries with a bright green colour: Adopted
Countries with a yellow colour: Tested
Countries with a blue colour: Testing ongoing

Countries where the technology is being tested or has been tested and adopted
Country	Testing ongoing	Tested	Adopted
Egypt	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted

This technology can be used in the colored agro-ecological zones. Any zones shown in white are not suitable for this technology.

Agro-ecological zones where this technology can be used
AEZ	Subtropic - warm	Subtropic - cool	Tropic - warm	Tropic - cool
Arid
Semiarid
Subhumid
Humid

Source: HarvestChoice/IFPRI 2009

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that are applicable to this technology.

Goal 1: no poverty

Goal 2: zero hunger

Goal 5: gender equality

Goal 8: decent work and economic growth

Goal 10: reduced inequalities

Goal 11: sustainable cities and communities

Goal 13: climate action

Goal 15: life on land

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use GeoAgro:

Registration: Start by registering on the GeoAgro platform. You’ll need to provide personal information such as your name, email address, phone number, age, gender, and role in agriculture.
GeoTagging Module: Use the GeoTagging module to submit your field characteristics. This involves answering a few survey questions about your plot, such as its latitude/longitude, the current crop, date of sowing, soil type, water management, fertilizer management, estimated crop yield, and more.
Access Information: Utilize the wealth of information available on the platform. This includes agronomy insights, weather updates, and the ability to consult with experts.
Marketplace: Use the marketplace feature to buy and sell products, thereby improving your access to markets.
Financial Advice: Take advantage of the financial advice and services offered by GeoAgro to improve your financial literacy and gain access to necessary financial services.
Resource Management: Use the specific information related to your field and the resource management solutions provided by GeoAgro to optimize your resource use and achieve better agronomic outcomes.
Climate Change Adaptation: As part of ICARDA’s mission, use the resources and advice provided by GeoAgro to adapt your farming practices to mitigate the effects of climate change.