Dear FSN Moderator,
Thanks for this privilege. It was interesting for me to participate in the FSN forum on the above topic.
Here are my further contributions to question 2: "How can the establishment of the Digital Council address the numerous barriers to adoption of these technologies?":
Establishment of an international digital council for Food and Agriculture is a great step forward to enhancing food security, especially in the face of the current global climate change challenges. However, to make major impacts in developing countries such as Nigeria, I hereby suggest that:
1. Gender experts should be involved at all the stages, to avoid or alleviate gender digital divides, which could hinder improvement in food production and security;
2. FSN and FAO should sponsor gender-responsive e-agricultural extension and rural advisory curriculum rehabilitation and integration at the tertiary level to support the bridging of the gaps between researches on ICT and adoption at the rural community levels;
3. Support capacity buildings of extension and rural advisory professionals as well as the farmers;
4. Support gender-responsive ex- ante research to analyze the existing environment for effective digital integration into agriculture in developing countries; and
5. Collaborate with local stakeholders such as Universities, Agricultural Institutes, Extension, and rural advisory institutes and agencies, Ministries of Agriculture, farmers' organizations, etc. for effective application.
Thank you.
Prof. Olanike Deji
Obafemi Awolowo University,
Ile Ife, Osun state.
Nigeria.
Проф. Olanike Deji