Ethiopia's Digital Agricultural Roadmap

(DAR)

National Convening

Haile Grand, Addis Ababa , March 11-12

 Opening remarks 09:00 – 09:15
Introduction to the Digital Agriculture Roadmap and Convening objectives 09:15 – 09:30
Digital agriculture maturity assessment 09:30 – 10:00
Visioning exercise 10:00 – 11:00
Coffee break 11:00 – 11:20
Day 1 agenda Speeches from Ethiopian digital agriculture success stories 11:20 – 13:00
Lunch 13:00 – 14:00
Use case prioritisation breakout session 14:00 – 16:20
Presentations from breakout sessions 16:20 – 16:50
Day 1 wrap-up, next day agenda & closing remarks 16:50 – 17:00

1
 Opening remarks 09:00 – 09:15
Introduction to the Digital Agriculture Roadmap and Convening objectives 09:15 – 09:30
Digital agriculture maturity assessment 09:30 – 10:00
Visioning exercise 10:00 – 11:00
Coffee break 11:00 – 11:20
Day 1 agenda Speeches from Ethiopian digital agriculture success stories 11:20 – 13:00
Lunch 13:00 – 14:00
Use case prioritisation breakout session 14:00 – 16:20
Presentations from breakout sessions 16:20 – 16:50
Day 1 wrap-up, next day agenda & closing remarks 16:50 – 17:00

6
 DAR is an initiative to take Ethiopia's digital agriculture
transformation efforts beyond extension & advisory

What is the Digital • In 2022, Ethiopia developed the Digital Agriculture Extension and
Agriculture Advisory Services (DAEAS) Roadmap 2030
Roadmap (DAR)? • DAEAS revealed the need to expand Ethiopia's digital agriculture
transformation efforts beyond extension and advisory

7
Governance | DAR's project and working teams are being supported by a Steering
Committee from across government and funders
Steering committee

Chair
Dr. Girma Amente

Deputy Chair Prof. Eyasu Elias Dr. Fikru Regassa Dr. Meles Mekonnen Dr. Sofia Kassa
Dr. Mandefro Nigussie (ATI) State Minister of Agriculture State Minister of Agriculture State Minister of Agriculture State Minister of Agriculture

Dr. Efa Muleta Mr. Stewart Collis Erik Slingerland

Dr. Parmesh Shah Dr. Mawira Chitima
State Minister of Agriculture BMGF Embassy of the Kingdom of the
World Bank IFAD & REDFS – Co chair
Netherlands & REDFS – Co chair

8
 Ecosystem diagnosis
Thorough assessment of digital agriculture
ecosystem to establish the point of departure for
DAR

Approach |
3-step approach to Roadmap development
Outline the vision, prioritise use cases and detail
develop DAR out elements in the digital stack and enabling
environment to support the priority use cases

Implementation plan development

Develop implementation plans for the identified
priority use cases and initiatives
9
 Digital agriculture is the use of technologies and
integrated systems to enable farmers and
stakeholders within the agricultural value chain

What do we
Digital agriculture includes tools that digitally
mean by collect, store, analyze and share electronic data or
digital information

agriculture? Digital agriculture applies across the entire agri-

value chain, and we use our digital agriculture
ecosystem map to define each element

10
 Target state | The farmer of the future will frequently access digital use cases along
the value chain, and will be enabled by a strong, empowered environment
Illustrative and Non- exhaustive

Financing Supply chain Extension Price and market

Solutions

Farmer is able to access credit Farmer can scan a code to guarantee Farmer receives useful and Farmer gets price alerts customized
through digital credit scoring & can their inputs are quality and customized advisory based on the to their own crops or livestock, with
quickly receive payments or pay for untampered, and can track inputs to crops they grow, climate and their links to e-marketplaces both
inputs through mobile money the farm door location, with early warnings domestically and internationally

Farmer profile Smart farming

Farmer uses IoT-enabled machinery, with alerts
Farmer can define their land boundaries clearly, for maintenance, on genome tested improved
and can use their profile to apply for and verify crops, as well as smart irrigation tools that
inputs, credit and other agricultural services automatically release water and alert for
leakage
Farmer can check their
yield data using sensors
and satellites linked to
Digital Farmer platform

Digital infrastructure Capacity & capability Private sector Physical infrastructure

Enablers

Farmer has a smartphone, with affordable Farmer has learnt digital literacy through Farmer pays for value-adding products Farmer can access electricity to charge
data packages that enable use consistently school, and has access to well-trained, from an empowered private sector that devices, and has good roads to quickly and
digitally skilled DAs has developed innovative tools, inc. cheaply transport goods
targeted smart farming tools, at fair prices

11
Use cases Enablers Digital tools or data sets
Framework | DAR will leverage a framework similar to that used in DAEAS to develop
the roadmap and detail out prioritised use cases

End Users and Solutions

Accelerate development of digital innovations for priority farmer and decision maker use cases

Digital Stack
Develop necessary digital layers to support product development and interoperability
(User Facing Layer, Integration Layer, Data and Content…)

Enabling Environment
Develop policies, human capital, infrastructure and private sector to enable digitalization of the sector

12
 Socialise the concept of the roadmap

Key Align on a shared vision for DAR

objectives
for National Align on and prioritise use cases
Convening
Note high-level digital stack and enabling
environment for prioritised use cases

13
Objectives | Over the next two days we need your input on which use cases to
prioritise and what we need to implement these uses cases

Today: Set the vision and prioritise use cases Tomorrow: Build out the digital stack and enabling
environment for prioritised use cases

End Users and Solutions End Users and Solutions

Digital Stack Digital Stack

Enabling Environment Enabling Environment

14
Attendees| With 50 + attendees across public, private, and social sectors, this
convening will play a pivotal role in the roadmap's development

Government Donor organization Private sector

MoA USAID Safaricom Telecommunications
ATI FAO Hello Tractor
Oromia BoA GIZ Lersha
Amhara BoA IFAD Heineken
Gambella BoA International Finance Corporation Hello Erf
Somali BoA World Bank Boortmalt
South Ethiopia Regional State BoA World Food Program Ethio-Agri ceft
Sidama BoA Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office EthioChicken
Afar BoA International Livestock Research Institute Joytech
Benshangul-Gumuz BoA Sasakawa Africa Association FreshGate
Harari BoA Digital Green Pioneer - Ethiopia office
South West BoA Oxfam Soufflet
Central Ethiopia Regional State BoA Mercy Corps Omishitu Joy
Tigray BoA TechoServe Kifya
Ministry of Innovation Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa RE Technology Solutions PLC
Ministry of Irrigation and Lowlands SNV Arifpay
Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research BMGF Acatchte Technology
EthioTelecom MasterCard Kazana Group
Ethiopian Investment Holdings Development Gateway
ESS CABI
Alliance Bioversity-CIAT
Precision Agriculture for Development

15
 Opening remarks 09:00 – 09:15
Introduction to the Digital Agriculture Roadmap and Convening objectives 09:15 – 09:30
Digital agriculture maturity assessment 09:30 – 10:00
Visioning exercise 10:00 – 11:00
Coffee break 11:00 – 11:20
Day 1 agenda Speeches from Ethiopian digital agriculture success stories 11:20 – 13:00
Lunch 13:00 – 14:00
Use case prioritisation breakout session 14:00 – 16:20
Presentations from breakout sessions 16:20 – 16:50
Day 1 wrap-up, next day agenda & closing remarks 16:50 – 17:00

17
Approach | 2-step process to quickly and comprehensively assess the Digital
Agriculture Ecosystem in Ethiopia and establish the 'starting point' for DAR

1 2
Maturity assessment High-level ecosystem assessment,
leveraging the DFS1 Framework focusing on differences since 2019
DFS maturity assessment used to Leveraged stakeholder interviews and
understand and benchmark the readiness reports (e.g., CIAT & Acatech report, MoA
and maturity of Ethiopia's digital report) to understand key ecosystem
agriculture ecosystem strengths & weaknesses as well as progress Established a
made since 2019 maturity assessment2 comprehensive
starting point from
which DAR
roadmap will be
built upon

1. Digital Farmer Services, framework developed by BMGF to assess the maturity of digital ecosystems in different geographies 2. 2019 was the last time BMGF assessed the
maturity of Ethiopia along with 10 other benchmark countries 18
Data sources | We have reviewed 16+ key documents, held 20+ interviews and 2 focus
groups to date, with more interviews organized

Reports and strategies Stakeholder interviews Farmer focus groups

• Peri-urban (horticulture)
• Highlands (crop and livestock)

… and many more … and many more

19
Situation analysis | Ethiopian digital ag ecosystem has developed by improved data &
digital finance in recent years, with a continued need for strengthening in some areas
Digital agriculture maturity assessment shows all elements of the ecosystem are either nascent or needing improvement
• The most mature area is physical infrastructure (with 85% 3G network coverage1 and satellite access)
• However, from 2021 there has been a net decrease in internet use, significantly in rural users (8% decrease)2
• Major gaps in smart farming, analytics & human capital (only 52% literacy3 & ranked 119/134 countries on digital skills)4

There are multiple digital agriculture initiatives across solution areas, but there is a lack of co-ordination or planning
• Many financial initiatives despite low mobile banking adoption, but few in agricultural intelligence where support is needed
• There are a huge number of databases and data initiatives but no coordination or overarching strategy
• Agricultural funding decreased 86% last 4 years with largest drop of 83% 2021-225, leading to smaller, disparate initiatives

Expense of digital infra & data governance have been identified as areas for strengthening in enabling environment
• Digital infra exists but is expensive, with data 5% of the GNIpc for higher usage baskets6, and smartphones ~100% of GNIpc7
• There are new data policies in place (e.g., e-transaction, profile)8, but still a lack of data governance or standardisation

Stakeholders highlighted collaboration and data quantity as strengths, and machinery and input access as areas to strengthen
• Ecosystem strengths are seen to be cross-stakeholder collaboration, innovative pilots, and data breadth and quantity
• Stakeholders see areas to strengthen as input tracing and access, machinery access, and data interoperability

Going forward, the digital agriculture ecosystem should target use cases in inputs and machinery, and improve data integration
• Priority use cases are in procuring, tracking & tracing inputs, as well as access to credit and leasing for machinery & inputs
• In the data stack, a farmer database will enable integration, and data assets should be made interoperable
• In the enabling environment, affordable connectivity, capacity building & innovative tools will best support the ecosystem
1. GSMA Mobile Connectivity Report 2023 2. GSMA The State of Mobile Internet Connectivity Report 2023 – no previous data available 3. World Bank Development Indicators 2020 4. Digital Skills Gap Index Wiley Report (2021) 5. OECD CRS Report 6. GNIpc = 20
Gross National Income per capita; ITU price baskets data (2022) with a higher usage basket containing 140 mins, 70 SMS and 2GB monthly 7. Alliance for Affordable Internet, 2021 8. MINT data policies
 Situation analysis | All elements of digital agriculture ecosystem are either nascent or
need improvement, with biggest gaps in smart farming, analytics and human capital

A region with limited digital infrastructure, but is experiencing an inflection point for digital agriculture, driven by either public or private sectors
Use cases and solutions
Advisory & Smart Financial Pricing & Market Supply Chain
Solution areas Ag Intelligence
​ Extension Services Farming ​ Services Services Management

Digital stack
User Facing Layer Information Transactions Delivery Technologies
(Applications & Tools) (incl. crop, pricing, market, weather, etc.) (incl. credit, input, warehouse receipts, etc.) (incl. IVR, SMS, Farm Radio, etc.)

Integration Layer Integration Features Analytics Functions

(Platforms & Pathways) (incl. secure gateway, standards & interoperability, etc.) Layer (incl. enrollment patterns, credit algorithms, etc.)

Data & Content Farmer Related Productivity Related Market Related

(Agriculture & Adjacent) (incl. farmer registries, financial history, etc.) (incl. soil registries, weather data, etc.) (incl. price data, trade data,, etc.)

Enabling Environment
Digital Infrastructure Innovation & Technologies Physical Infrastructure
(incl. mobile penetration, broadband, cloud services, etc.) (incl. blockchain, AI, machine learning, etc.) (incl. roads, irrigation, cell towers, aggregation centers, etc.)

Governance and Policy Agricultural Markets Human Capital & Infrastructure

(incl. ICT policy, data policy, digital ag initiatives, farmer support, etc.) (incl. inputs, value addition, trade barriers, etc.) (incl. gender & social structure, literacy levels, user engagement/trust, etc.)

Maturity assessment key Note: There were no overall increases or decreases; key is for sub-category changes since 2020

Nascent Exists, Needs strengthening / Not at Scale Relatively Strong / At Scale Improvements in maturity vs 2019 - to be highlighted on the next slide

21
Note: This view has been developed based on the sources outlined on the source slide
 Financial services
• Mobile money launched and grown to 40m Telebirr users from scratch, and 9bn
ETB in digital credit granted, with m-Pesa also launched in Ethiopia1
• Digital banking grown, e.g., Apollo (Abyssinia Bank) and Michu (Oromia Bank)
User facing information
• Digital kiosk pilot has been launched from DAEAS roadmap
Situation • Digital Green is piloting the AI chatbot reaching ~35k farmers in 12 woredas2
• 30,000 tablets have been distributed to regions to be assigned to DAs3
analysis | Productivity related data
• Coalition of the Willing and the Supporting Soil Health Initiative have developed
Six key comprehensive soil health database4, while CIAT and CGIAR have turned site-
specific fertilizer recommendations via EiA using this data into advisory content5
progressions • aLIVE Livestock Data Roadmap built for disease tracking, reporting & traceability

Market related data

across the • NMIS launched in 2019; grew from 5 commodities to 19 & 31 markets to 3006
• NLMIS launched at same time and now covers 56 market centres from 476
ecosystem since Digital infrastructure
• Ethiopia has increased on the GSMA index from an infrastructure score of 39.8 to
2019 45.6, increasing 1 point in network coverage, and 19 in performance7
• 4G launched in 67 new towns in 20228, & 5G launched in parts of Addis in 20239
• MoA Tier III Data Centre 80% ready, & will support data storage & management
Physical infrastructure
• New storage centres have been built in regional locations such as Bishoftu and by
44 cooperatives and unions through ATI pilots10
1. EthioTel interview 2. Digital Green interview and materials, operating in wheat belt woredas including Goba, Basona, Siyadebir, Lemo, and Mareko (Amhara and Oromia) 3. ATI interview 22
4. 20,000 legacy soil profile data and over 38,000 crop responses to fertilizer data - GIZ SSHI interview 5. Excellence in Agronomy, CGIAR, Site-specific fertilizer recommendation spilled over
to other partners (2023) 6. ATI interview 7. GSMA Connectivity Index 2019 and 2023 8. EthioTel 2022 press releases 9. EthioTel 2023 press releases 10. ATI press releases
 Pre-read only

Situation analysis | Most elements of the ecosystem have not meaningfully

progressed; powerful interventions will be needed to digitalize effectively
Solution area pillars

Advisory & Smart Farming Ag Intelligence Financial Pricing & Market Supply Chain
​ Extension Services ​ Services Services Management
• Status today: Low-tech • Status today: Limited • Status today: Weather and • Status today: Mobile money • Status today: ECX7 and • Status today: Private sector
delivery channels strong, but activity, emerging irrigation soil (SSHI) decision-making & banking better, but rural NMIS3 are generally good led by Lersha moving into
better integration with data solutions e.g., Water Ways functional, but these are the population underserved but limited in scope, and aggregation, but no input
needed e.g., weather • Implications: Smart farming only use cases • Implications: Will require some data poor tracing
• Implications: Without real- not possible for farmers until • Implications: Decisions are mixture of solutions to serve • Implications: Though scope • Implications: Inputs key pain
time info integration, user other areas have matured woreda-level with little the un- or underbanked e.g., growing, data quality could point for years; will require
won't pay (low sustainability) (tech expensive) strategy; need national view cards, DA networks hold back expansion investment to improve
• Status today: Strong low-tech tools e.g., IVR 8028, improving market info & 30k tablets going to DAs, but high-tech tools e.g., Digital Green AI chatbot only pilots
User Facing Layer
• Low mobile banking usage (30%)1 in financial services, but advanced from 2021 through Telebirr and m-Pesa
(Applications & Tools) • Implications: Layer has improved, but more creative delivery channels required while smartphones and internet expensive
Digital stack

• Status today: Emerging solutions such as FarmStack provide strong middleware potential but need integration with further use cases; Limited presence of ag-
Integration Layer
specific mobile wallets solutions due to lack of mobile infrastructure and financial sector engagement
(Platforms & Pathways) • Implications: All solutions must be built with private sector or telcos to ensure integration is possible and quick
• Status today: Some predictive weather and crop analytics at a national level through e.g. EDACAP2 ; and MINT launched the AI R&D Centre of Excellence ;
Analytics
Lack of private sector activity presents challenges to ability to organically scale (e.g., Innovation Hub is an FAO initiative)
Layer • Implications: Human capacity especially in the private sector is insufficient to scale analytics; will require training and investment
• Status today: A lot of data is collected (522 data sets in the Agrihub), but it is either limited in scope (NMIS)3, poor quality (livestock data), or not
Data & Content
standardized or integrated (SSHI4 trying to overcome this challenge); key focus for players e.g., CABI5 & CoW6 on governance; National/Farmer ID in pilot
(Agriculture & Adjacent) • Implications: Big focus on data standardization pushing progress in this layer, but needs to be consolidated for targeted use cases to benefit farmers

• Status today: Digital infrastructure available • Status today: Limited innovation beyond • Status today: Existing physical infra semi-
but cost is limiting accessibility; limited cloud government or NGOs, such as MINT7 or DAIH reliable, with satellites progressing towards
and computing • Implications: Private sector needs to be more more advanced physical infra
Digital • Implications: Competition needed to bring Innovation & enabled and empowered, with less Physical • Implications: New infra should closely target
Infrastructure down price of data/phones to enable access Technology bureaucracy, to encourage innovation Infrastructure use cases to optimize spend
Enablers

• Status today: Strong policies and frameworks, • Status today: Inputs are limited, and • Status today: Low overall adult literacy is
but limited governance or data standards currently hard to track, while value addition causing barriers to digital adoption, and
• Implications: Lack of interoperability & and access to improved markets is nascent digital skills ranked 119/134 countries8
Governance & sharing; more data collected since 2019 but Agricultural • Implications: Even if linkages created, tools Human • Implications: Incentives needed to overcome
Policy few end use cases Markets not relevant without improved procurement Capital adoption barriers; dig ag training needed 23
1. GSMA 2023 2. Ethiopian Digital AgroClimate Advisory Platform 3. National Market Information Services 4. Supporting Soil Health Intervention 5. Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International 6. Coalition of the Willing 7. Ministry of Innovation and
Technology 8. Digital Skills Gap Index Wiley Report (2021)
 Pre-read only

Deep-dive – Solutions and Stack | Smart farming nascent, while other solutions some
existing capability; analytics layer the least mature due to limited human capacity
Advisory & Extension Agricultural Supply Chain
Smart Farming Financial Services Pricing & Market
Services Intelligence Management
DAEAS programme expanding Limited activity, emerging EDACaP3 dashboard for Mobile money and banking Integrated commodity Private sector led by Lersha
delivery channels solutions in irrigation climate and weather cases increasing, led by exchange market moving into this space; some
• 8028 hotline by ATI1 with • Limited digital • Robust national cross- national banks & EthioTel • First SSA5 electronic traceability
User IVR2 /SMS in 6 languages, functionality even of cutting decision-making • Mobile money platforms commodity exchange • Traceability solutions
Facing 4M registered callers 'precision' pilots system EDACaP3 primarily increasing users and • NMIS6 platform has 19 integrated with ECX7
Layer • Digital Green developing • Some irrigation pilots such used by DAs distributing loans (1m by crops and 311 markets, • Lersha has expanded with
small pilot for AI chatbots as Water Ways digitally • SSHI4 datasets to be used Telebirr) with 1.2m callers for up- products in aggregation,
• Digital kiosks piloted enabled irrigators for decisions • National digital financing to-date pricing; limited delivery of mechanisation
• 30k tablets going to DAs launches e.g., Michu reach services
Limited integration features Limited information Well integrated national Interoperability between Limited private sector API-connectivity8 of national
and little progress in platform banks and in Telebirr connectivity; some ECX7 ECX7 platform
• EDACaP3 with fully API- • Intra-bank and emerging • IBM-enabled national
Digital Stack Component

FarmStack integration
Integration
• API8 connectivity in enabled8 web layer for use payment gateways e.g., • ECX7 data orchestration & traceability system fully
Layer
Farmstack– will integrate by DAs Chapa interoperable secure payment system integrated w/ ECX7
data sources – but still • Limited integration across • Some mobile money • NMIS6 integration into • Limited integration for
limited interoperability private sector integration in Telebirr advisory inputs
Some national predictive weather and crop analytics Banking analytics nascent Limited forecasting but some Limited information
• Use of crop modelling and climate and weather forecasting (Clim-ARM) • Banks using some analytics on ECX7
Analytics • Limited private sector activity, with no initiatives to produce analysed weather or predictive transaction data for credit, • ML / predictive analytics
Layer crop information for sale but limited for ECX7 quality control
• Recent MINT launch of AI R&D Centre • Limited price forecasting
• CGIAR and CIAT using soil data for machine-learning site-specific fertilizer recommendations
National focus on soil, agronomy and climate data; increasing usage by extension agencies for High level transaction data Daily up-to-date pricing data w/ accessible user channels;
advisory or decision support • Transaction data collected limited data beyond ECX7 traded crops
• Comprehensive national Soil Information System (EthioSIS), and Supporting Soil Health nationally and by main • Mobile push service w/ daily market information via text
Content & Intervention datasets coupled with agronomy research set up to inform decisions banks but not at a more message / IVR2 by NMIS6, but only for 19 crops and 311
Data Sets • Robust climate-focused national data set EDACaP granular level markets
• Livestock Information System roadmapped, but no implementation • Limited credit or insurance • Quality, health and safety data via bar code for inputs but
• Great deal of data collected, but no strategy and data is not integrated data not regulated or enforced with consistency
• Farmer profiling with National ID integration via MOSIP8 being piloted to underpin use cases
Nascent Exists, Needs strengthening / Not at Scale Relatively Strong / At Scale Improvements in maturity vs 2019
24
1. Agricultural Transformation Institute 2. Interactive Voice Response 3. Ethiopian Digital AgroClimate Advisory Platform 4. Supporting Soil Health Intervention 5. Sub-Saharan Africa 6. National Market Information Services – 311 markets are woreda level
domestic markets 7. Ethiopian Commodity Exchange 8. Application Programming Interface 8 . Modular Open Source Identity Platform
 Pre-read only

Deep-dive – Enabling Environment | In the enabling layer, innovation, agricultural

markets and human capital will all need focus to progress to greater maturities
Innovation and technologies Digital infrastructure Physical infrastructure
Limited innovation beyond government organisations, such as Digital infrastructure available but cost is limiting accessibility; Existing physical infrastructure average maturity, with satellites
MINT1 or the Digital Agriculture and Innovation Hubs limited cloud and computing progressing towards more advanced physical infra
• MINT1 launched an AI R&D Centre for analytics in 2021, • 85% of population covered by 3G network (SSA av. 84%)3 • Recent launch of Chinese-backed satellite expected to
which has produced a coffee leaf disease detection and • Data however is 5% GNIpc vs 3% for LMICs4 and smartphone provide remote sensing opportunities (owned by Ethiopia)
severity estimation analytics tool 96% GNIpc vs 34% in Kenya5 • There are a few central storage facilities that are largely
• Nascent use of new tech and innovations through the DAIH 2, • Moderate-weak levels of base digital use (only 59% mobile concentrated in Addis Ababa, but more have been built in
such as exploring drone technologies for agriculture and ownership vs. 93% in Kenya6 and 17% internet penetration vs agricultural centres such as Bishoftu
water resource management 43% in Sub-Saharan Africa)7 • Road quality in Ethiopia is assessed as 3 out of 7 in the 2023
• Some private sector companies e.g., Lersha, Hello Tractor, • Low private sector presence of strong advanced computing road quality index (below the global average of 4.05), with
but very few innovating in this space capabilities (2 small known cos – Sun Data World, HomeLink) no overall changes since 201912
• Cloud infrastructure is present but server space is still highly
Enabling environment

cost-restrictive for small businesses (between $50-100 p.a.)

Governance and policy Agricultural markets Human capital and infrastructure

Strong policy frameworks but limited operationalizing at the Inputs are limited, and currently hard to track, while value women Low overall adult literacy is causing barriers to digital
regional level, including standards adherence addition and access to improved markets is nascent adoption, while training on digital topics is not ag focused
• Strong agricultural policy frameworks but limited or • Access to inputs limited with major shortages • Adult literacy rates of ~52% with women 10-15% less literate
restrictive in digital agriculture, adjacent sectors • Lack of a proper input tracking system than men (relatively low for SSA)10
• Policy at a federal level is strong, but is misaligned between • Value addition capabilities low except for limited • Digital skills in Ethiopia ranked 119/134 countries11
regions e.g., different enforcement for existing fertilizer and commodities e.g., some oilseeds • Provides barriers to scaling of more robust digital
seed standards policies • Sales through physical market channels, with burgeoning technologies such as mobile apps
• New data policies e.g., personal data policy by MINT in roles for cooperatives and unions • No existing digital agriculture training or educational
endorsement stage, and e-transaction data endorsed, plus pathways – ATVETs do not deliver digital agriculture specific
policies for rural connectivity & banking curricula according to MoA assessment
• MoA Agrihub established to collate and consolidate data,
and ECA8 to regulate it, but 22 databases and systems in
MoA alone with no integration
• Engagement of NGOs e.g., CABI9, Coalition of the Willing to
encourage data sharing and develop governance

Nascent Exists, Needs strengthening / Not at Scale Relatively Strong / At Scale Improvements in maturity vs 2019
25
1. Ministry of Innovation and Technology 2. Digital Agriculture Innovation Hub (FAO initiative) 3. GSMA Mobile Connectivity Index 4. ITU price baskets data (2022) 5. Alliance for Affordable Internet, 2021 6. Usage and penetration Ecofin 2023 7. GSMA 2023 8.
Ethiopian Communications Authority 9. Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International 10. World Bank Development Indicators 2020 11. Digital Skills Gap Index Wiley Report (2021) 12. World Population Review 2023 Road Quality Index
 Pre-read only

Situation analysis | Multiple user-facing initiatives, but limited co-ordination and few
projects designed to target gaps
Advisory & Extension Agricultural Supply Chain
Smart Farming Financial Services Pricing & Market
Services Intelligence Management

IVR and SMS

Irrigation pilot Agro-climate advisory Input Voucher System Input Voucher System
Live commodity
NextGen AgroAdvisory exchange

User Facing AI Chatbots & CGIAR/CIAT Credit, Traceability integrated

Layer fertilizer content Machinery use and Automated weather input credit into ECX
maintenance stations Mobile money
National Market
Mass media radio Initiatives limited in Ag Information Services
Aggregation and
Intelligence – targeted transportation
Digital lending
Machinery use and use cases would help
Digital kiosk pilot maintenance determine what macro
info is required Machinery leasing

Clim-ARM
Cross- Data exchange platform
cutting
AI Centre Agro-climate advisory
Individual bank Traceability system
transaction analytics Individual bank
and integration tools transaction

Initiatives heavy in financial services integration due

to e-money liberalization and Safaricom m-pesa
26
entrance, despite low mobile banking adoption
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Deep Dive – Initiatives | Ag funding has decreased since 2018, dropping by 83% in
2021-22, due to shift to humanitarian, resulting in reduced focus on digital ag projects

Donor funding overall reduced into agriculture… …with largest reductions in co-operative funding and inputs
Donor funding into agriculture 2018-2022 Change in funding 2018-2022 Funding to key sectors
Agriculturalfinancial
financial services -80% 2,739
Agricultural services
Covid: March 2020 2,529
Funding ($m) Agro-industries
Agro-industries 361%
Tigray War: November 2020
400 -19%
Humancapital
Human capitaldevelopment
development -69%
360 Co-operatives
Co-operatives -99%
344
Extensionand
Extension andadvisory
advisory -94%
320 -83%
Policyand
Policy andadministrative
administrative management
management -70%
300 291
R&D
R&D -86%
Transformationand
Transformation anddevelopment
development -81%
Post-war open to Inputsand
Inputs andservices
services -95%
200 humanitarian efforts Landand
Land andwater
waterresource
resource management
management -95% 2020 2022
Total agriculture funding -86% Other
Total humanitarian & emergency funding 83% Emergency
100 Total funding to Ethiopia 21% Ag.

51
• Total decrease of 86% over 4 years skewed by war and
redistribution into humanitarian efforts (humanitarian and
0
2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 emergency increased 117% to $1,188m in same period)
• Results are smaller, disparate initiatives and lack of focus on
Total Funding
to Ethiopia
$2,556m $2,404m $2,529m $2,520m $2,739m agriculture and digital agriculture
Note: OECD CRS data includes all development funding into agricultural projects from governments, private foundations and philanthropists and donor organizations Source: OECD CRS Database; Expert interviews 27
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Deep Dive – Data and Content | Multiple user-facing initiatives, but no central
coordinator or governance framework, and few projects designed to target gaps
Large number of datasets and data players with no clear central coordinating entity or Deep-dive | MoA Agrihub starting
governance framework; first efforts made towards standardization and harmonization to progress beyond datasets to
interoperable data integration
Key datasets
• Soil data from EthioSIS, NISIS, and Supporting Soil Health Initiative (20,000 soil
profile data points) • Developing frameworks and procedures to
• aLIVE livestock data (disease notification and reporting, traceability) standardize, harmonize and integrate data
• Market data in National Market Information Services and Ethiopian Commodity • Uses mini hubs across different
Exchange institutions to support capacity
• Transaction data from banks • End goal to receive standard data from
• Climate and weather data in EDACaP and weather stations the field (in near real-time), and then
• Crop and seed data (Seed Certification Information, disease surveillance, variety harmonize and integrate into the hub
testing and research) • Main hub at the MoA and a mini hub at
• Administrative data (e-learning, asset management, land admin) EIAR are over 80% complete

Key players
• Central Statistics Service (CSS) (agronomy data)
• Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR) (crop & livestock)
• MoA (561 datasets, 22 systems and data bases, developing Agrihub)
• ATI (farmer survey data, ACC and 8028 data)
• Coalition of the Willing (CoW) (crop and soil data, developing standardized field
data collection and analytical guidelines)
Livestock Information System
• Digital Green (extension and advisory feedback data )
• MOSIP (National ID and farmer profiling)
• EiA and CGIAR (site-specific fertilizer and climate data)

MoA database and systems integration

1. 28
 Pre-read only

Deep Dive – Digital Infrastructure | Though digital infrastructure exists, prices of data
and devices are limiting the use and benefits of the available infrastructure

Prices of larger mobile data packages Price of mobile devices is >2X vs. Even when smartphone prices fall,
are high vs. peers (+1ppts vs LMICs) peers for smartphones penetration plateaus, as seen in India
Mobile data & voice price as % of GNIpc1 (2022) Mobile device price % of GNIpc3 (2021 latest data) Smartphone penetration and price in India
Smartphone penetration (%)5 US smartphone penetration6
Ethiopian smartphone penetration7 Average smartphone price ($USD)7

Penetration %
Average smartphone price $USD
200 100
5 High usage 96 Smartphone
4 42
1 34
75

150 50

Forecast
25
3 35 Feature phone3
2 Low usage 25
1 15
100 0
India LMICs Ethiopia Kenya India Ethiopia
2018 2020 2022 2024 2026 2028
Ethio smartphone
225 260 278 285
prices $USD7

High data costs (except lowest usage) likely one High device cost leading to low market India prices forecast to fall >20%, but
of the main drivers for low internet penetration penetration in Ethiopia (59% mobile ownership penetration still below 85%, (equivalent to 24m
(17% vs 22% SSA)2 vs. 93% in Kenya & 77% India)4 if applied to Eth), meaning USSD & IVR8 needed
Source: 1. ITU price baskets data (2022); Gross National Income per capita 2. GSMA New insights on mobile internet connectivity in Sub-Saharan Africa 2023 3. Alliance for Affordable Internet, 2021; Gross National Income per capita 3. Feature phones price
estimated based: DW, Ethiopia - Simpler phones, smarter choices (2017) - adjusted for 2022 inflation; Copia – an affordable outlet in Kenya targeting low-income segments according to GSMA(2022); 4. Usage and penetration Ecofin 2023 5. Newzoo Global
Mobile Market Report 2023, with forecast to 2040 6. Edison Market Research 7. Statista Market Insights 8. Unstructured Supplementary Service Data and Interactive Voice Response 29
 Pre-read only

Deep Dive – Digital Infrastructure | Coverage is high, on par with sub-Saharan Africa
for 3G, but infrastructure is ~15 index points below digitally transitioning peers

3G coverage is 85%, with other SSA Other infrastructure is low, compared There has been a net decrease in
countries averaging 84%1 to peers mobile internet usage

Ethiopia also has GSMA Infrastructure Assessment 2023 Change in mobile internet use 2021-24
86% 2G and
Net -2% Net -8%
70% 4G coverage Ethiopia Kenya India % 100
21 14 Increased a lot

Overall 21 Increased a little

99% 45.6 60.1 61.8 21
Infrastructure2 14 Stayed the same
85% 50 14
77% Network Decreased a litte
27
coverage 23
55.7 88.3 89.0
(index, not Decreased a lot
81% absolute) 20 24
84% 0 1 0
Unsure
SSA Network Urban Rural
39.8 37.1 41.9
average performance

Spectrum3 37.3 49.7 47.3

Decrease in data usage resulting in less
access to digital tools, particularly for
Key Key
farmers (mainly in rural areas)
Lowest vs Middle Highest
<80% 80-90% 90%<
peers vs peers vs peers

1. GSMA Mobile Connectivity Index 2023 (Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Ethiopia, as well as SSA) 2.Overall infrastructure includes network coverage, performance and spectrum 3. Amount of spectrum assigned to network providers 4. GSMA The State of Mobile
Internet Connectivity Report 2023 – no previous data available 30
Stakeholder feedback | Stakeholders said the ecosystem has strong collaboration &
quality products, but needs strengthening in machinery & input access, & input tracing

Key strengths Areas to strengthen Direction needed

Collaborative ecosystem Machinery and input access Promote business
and quality products & tracing, and data sustainability in ecosystem

“There are a lot of organizations looking "We don’t get enough inputs or machines "We need to focus on use cases that are
to share and standardize data, and there and they aren't often available or on time, self-sustaining beyond the initial funding"
are very strong working collaborations especially as illegal traders get involved as – IFAD
between NGOs and the government” middlemen" – Oromia Farmer Focus Group
– GIZ Soil Project Teams "Our main goal currently is to achieve
"Procurement is a big challenge area – sustainable jobs and income; digital
"There are some strong digital tools and farmers never get pesticide and fertiliser on agriculture can achieve this if it involved
pilots being rolled out in Ethiopia – farmer time we need a more timely and accurate the private sector" - Danida
profiles could be a big unlock" – Digital demand picture" - Digital Green
Green “More private sector implementation or
"Data needs to be interoperable and PPP models should be explored, as we
"ATI 8028 farmer hotline is a great tool accessible, so need clear guidelines and want lasting capacity and capability
and well used, and can be scaled further incentives to standardize and share" – GIZ building" – ATI Digital
to develop digital and financial skills " –
MINT

Source: Stakeholder interviews 31

 Stakeholder feedback | After speaking to ~30 stakeholders, including many in the
room, four use cases were highlighted as potential priorities

National level ag intelligence that Supply chain services that Access to financial services that
gets inputs more efficiently to guarantee quality products on time improve input and machinery
farmers access
1 Assess demand and procure inputs: Get inputs 2 Track and trace inputs & outputs: Improve the 3 Access credit: Provide credit assessments for
(fertilizer, seeds etc.) to farmers more efficiently speed and quality of distribution & reduce farmers, and provide individual or bundled
via top-down demand data assessment & leakage, via efficient, automated & transparent access to credit for agricultural inputs, land or
smart procurement logistics & channels projects

4 Access leasing: Enable farmers to access

machinery by accessing e-leasing platforms and
deposit schemes

32
Benchmarks | Transforming digital ag in Ethiopia requires advancing the most crucial
elements in the digital stack and enabling environment towards leading benchmarks
4 Stages of Digital Agriculture Ecosystem Maturity
Note: Country assessment as of 2020, except Ethiopia (updated 2024) Digital Agriculture
Performance & Potential2

Burkina Faso Mozambique Mali Tanzania Uganda Ethiopia Nigeria India Ghana Rwanda Kenya

Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4

Digital stack

Data And Content | India's Aadhaar System Integration | India Stack & Agristack
Unique ID number with over 1.3bn1
individuals registered (~93% Goal of providing citizens with a paperless, cashless, and presence-less
of pop.), acting as a database for the integration of many govt. service delivery, utilizes a set of APIs that private sector companies can
services use to allow for real-time accessibility of key data

Enabling Environment

Digital Infrastructure | Human Capital | Innovation and Tech. |

Rwanda's Digital Transformation India's Skilled Professionals Kenya's Silicon Savannah
Rwanda has 99% 4G coverage2, through a At 5.8m employees3, India's pool of IT experts Kenya has a vibrant startup ecosystem with
government-telco joint 'Connect' campaign & data scientists is one of the largest in the innovation hubs and accelerators, as well as a
that bundles smartphones with affordable world, supported by 23 publicly operated IITs policy and regulatory5 environment that
data (India Institutes of Technology)4 enables and incentivizes entrepreneurship

1.Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) 2. International Telecommunication Union (ITU) 3. Press Information Bureau (PIB) - India 4. IITs are known for their academic excellence within India and are under the ownership 33
of the Ministry of Education and the Government of India. They were created and are governed by the Institutes of Technology Act (1961) which declares them Institutes of National Importance. 5. Science, Technology, and
Innovation Act 2013, Micro and Small Enterprises Act of 2012 & The Companies Act 2015
 Benchmarks | India's advanced digital agriculture ecosystem has developed over
many years to become a leading example
Non-exhaustive

e-NAM AgroHub
Aadhaar (Solution Area - Market Services )
(Digital stack – Famer Data) (Digital Stack– Integration, Enabling Env. –
Innovation & Technologies)
Integrates agricultural markets
Facilitates secure access
online for better commodity Connects farmers with startups and
to agricultural services
trading and market access experts, offering access to
and efficient subsidy
technologies and resources for
distribution through
agricultural improvement
biometric identification

1950 2015 2016 2022

2009 2016 2019

India Institutes of Technology

(IITs)
(Enabling Env. – Human Capital) AgriStack
Kisan Suvidha (Digital Stack – Data, Enabling Env. Innovation &
(Solution Area – Extension) Technologies)
Drive agricultural innovation
Digital India
with new technologies (Enabling Env. Governance & Policy) Provides extension services Modernizing Indian agriculture
focusing on efficiency and agricultural information through consolidating high-
productivity by developing Enhances agricultural accessibility through a mobile app, aiding quality agricultural data to
human capital through digitization of public farmer decision-making facilitate new digital services, 34
services and digital literacy enhancing outcomes for farmers
 Opening remarks 09:00 – 09:15
Introduction to the Digital Agriculture Roadmap and Convening objectives 09:15 – 09:30
Digital agriculture maturity assessment 09:30 – 10:00
Visioning exercise 10:00 – 11:00
Coffee break 11:00 – 11:20
Day 1 agenda Speeches from Ethiopian digital agriculture success stories 11:20 – 13:00
Lunch 13:00 – 14:00
Use case prioritisation breakout session 14:00 – 16:20
Presentations from breakout sessions 16:20 – 16:50
Day 1 wrap-up, next day agenda & closing remarks 16:50 – 17:00

35
 • Articulate a goal for the evolution of digital
agriculture in Ethiopia over the next 10 years

Objective of
the DAR vision
• Guide strategic planning and decision-making
regarding digital agriculture

36
DAR vision | The vision should align to the Digital Ethiopia Strategy, Ten Year
Development Plan: A Pathway to Prosperity & MoA enablers

DAR vision should align to the six national agricultural ten-year And shall be enabled by the 4 foundational Cross Sector initiatives …
development objectives…

Infrastructure: Advance sector reforms and diversify energy,

Increase income & productivity to end poverty
focusing on connectivity and power efficiency.
Modernize agriculture to ensure food and nutrition security
Enabling Systems: Foster digital IDs and payments, enhance
cybersecurity through stakeholder collaboration.
Create sufficient job opportunities inc. for women and youth
Digital Interactions: Streamline E-Governance and E-Commerce
Reduce the impact of climate change on the sector
with regulatory simplification and market development.
Produce adequate value-add exports to improve trade balance
Ecosystem: Drive ICT investment and skill development, with a
focus on finance, education, and policy innovation.
Supply raw material inputs for the industrial sector

Source: Government of Ethiopia, 'Ten Years Development Plan: A Pathway to Prosperity 2021-2030' agricultural development objectives; MoA interviews 37
Benchmarks | A strong vision statement defines aspirations with clear objectives and
purpose to work towards

Digital Agriculture Extension National Digital Payments India Digital Ecosystem

and Advisory Services Strategy for Agriculture
“A productive, inclusive and “Build a secure, competitive, “Build a National Digital
sustainable agri-food system efficient, innovative, and Agriculture Ecosystem, to elevate
through the collaborative responsible payments ecosystem Indian Agriculture Sector to
delivery of customized digital to support a cash-lite and higher levels of efficiency and
services to all farmers in financially inclusive economy" productivity, and to improve the
Ethiopia” welfare and income of farmers”

38
 Opening remarks 09:00 – 09:15
Introduction to the Digital Agriculture Roadmap and Convening objectives 09:15 – 09:30
Digital agriculture maturity assessment 09:30 – 10:00
Visioning exercise 10:00 – 11:00
Coffee break 11:00 – 11:20
Day 1 agenda Speeches from Ethiopian digital agriculture success stories 11:20 – 13:00
Lunch 13:00 – 14:00
Use case prioritisation breakout session 14:00 – 16:20
Presentations from breakout sessions 16:20 – 16:50
Day 1 wrap-up, next day agenda & closing remarks 16:50 – 17:00

58
Use case definition | Use cases are tangible agricultural activities that can be
supported by specific digital tools

Definition | A tangible activity with a clear beneficial result for the end user that can be facilitated or improved
using digital tools, and ultimately supports the farmer or pastoralist

Example | Procure and distribute fertilizer to farmers more efficiently

• Farmer need: Quicker, more reliable access to fertilizer
• End user: Government
• Solution: Procurement and distribution using digital land mapping, demand forecasts and data dashboards

What it is What it is not

Farmer Need | An activity with clear benefit to the farmer An activity that only benefits other stakeholder groups

End User | An activity with a clearly defined targeted end-

A digital tool or set of data with no end goal or clear end user
user and end goal

Solution | An activity that can be supported or enabled by

Only the digital enabler, tool, or research
digital tools

59
Use case compilation | We consolidated and reviewed multiple use cases, narrowing
down to 21 which we shall prioritise across today

1. Referencing 2. Consolidation 3. Sense check 4. Prioritisation

Collated 130+ digital Consolidated and Tested with local Prioritized use cases based
examples from international deduplicated the example stakeholders to ensure that on feasibility and impact
studies, reports, BCG list and then sorted into use cases are relevant for
materials and national either use cases, or their Ethiopian context
priorities corresponding digital tools

Use case numbers Use case numbers

(inc. extension and advisory) (excl. extension and advisory)

138 26 21 Our task today

60
Solution area | These use cases span six solution areas, including extension and
advisory services which are being addressed by DAEAS

Smart Ag Financial Pricing & Supply Chain Advisory & Extension

Farming Intelligence Services Market Services Management Services

Developing precision Creating high level data Getting credit and Enabling live pricing Creating safety and Leveraging technology to
technology to better and decision support for financing to farmers, linkages and information traceability while provide real-time
produce, including businesses and through services, as well enabling transport and information, best
management, tracking governments e–vouchers, mobile as digitally linking supply storage optimisation practices, and
and varietal payments and digital and demand through digital solutions personalized guidance to
development credit and risk solutions farmers for improved
agricultural outcomes

Targeted through DAEAS

roadmap

61
Use cases | This compilation process has resulted in 21 use cases that we are looking
to further prioritize to the highest near-term priority use cases

Pricing and market Supply chain Extension and

Smart farming Financial Services Ag Intelligence
services management advisory
Track and distribute Deliver timely Improve access to
Manage farm business
Irrigate crops Access credit inputs & trace input interventions to agricultural and livestock
activities
supply chain protect crops/livestock information
Access or maintain access
Use and maintain farm Lease or purchase Access better markets Transport and store Develop carbon and
to land for agricultural
machinery machinery and buyers outputs safely climate credentials activities

Understand up-to-date Monitor crops and

Improve livestock
Improve crop varieties Access insurance transparent pricing for Track output inventory livestock for health, pests
management and growth
products

Dispose of and Assure quality of Procure and distribute Plan cropping and crop
Access investment
manage farm waste outputs inputs mapping

Access mobile banking Plan livestock grazing and

Sort and grade output water routes
and mobile money

Improve financial resource

utilisation
Targeted through DAEAS
roadmap 62
 Welcome remarks 09:00 – 09:15
Align on highest priority use cases 09:15 – 09:45
Introduction to the digital stack and enabling environment 09:45 – 10:45
Coffee break 10:45 – 11:00
Speeches from Ethiopian digital stack and enabling initiatives 11:00 – 12:20
Day 2 agenda International benchmark case studies 12:20 – 13:00
Lunch 13:00 – 14:00
Breakout session on digital stack and enabling environment 14:00 – 16:20
Breakout group presentations 16:20 – 16:50
Closing remarks 16:50 – 17:00

77
DAY 2
79
 Welcome remarks 09:00 – 09:15
Align on highest priority use cases 09:15 – 09:45
Introduction to the digital stack and enabling environment 09:45 – 10:45
Coffee break 10:45 – 11:00
Speeches from Ethiopian digital stack and enabling initiatives 11:00 – 12:20
Day 2 agenda International benchmark case studies 12:20 – 13:00
Lunch 13:00 – 14:00
Breakout session on digital stack and enabling environment 14:00 – 16:20
Breakout group presentations 16:20 – 16:50
Closing remarks 16:50 – 17:00

80
Today's plan | Today we shall focus on the sections of the pyramid that will support
the prioritised use cases

Today we shall focus on the digital stack and

End Users and Solutions enabling environment

Digital Stack These are critical for the implementation

and scaling of the prioritised use cases

Enabling Environment
We shall do this through a group exercise
similar to that of yesterday

82
 Welcome remarks 09:00 – 09:15
Align on highest priority use cases 09:15 – 09:45
Introduction to the digital stack and enabling environment 09:45 – 10:45
Coffee break 10:45 – 11:00
Speeches from Ethiopian digital stack and enabling initiatives 11:00 – 12:20
Day 2 agenda International benchmark case studies 12:20 – 13:00
Lunch 13:00 – 14:00
Breakout session on digital stack and enabling environment 14:00 – 16:20
Breakout group presentations 16:20 – 16:50
Closing remarks 16:50 – 17:00

86
 Approach | The approach to developing the Digital Agriculture Roadmap combines a
broad overall framework with a few deep front-to-back use cases as priority

1 The approach will take a broad view by defining a clear 2 …but will also deep dive into the highest priority use cases
strategic framework, with a vision, pillars and key enablers… that will deliver impact and value to farmers and pastoralists

• Broad approach will create a • Deep-dive approach will identify

framework including: the high priority use cases and
– Vision and use case pillars outline the business and technical
Use – Digital stack requirements to implement these
cases
– Enablers
Digital stack
• Use cases will be aligned to, and
• Framework allows for further use cut across, the framework,
cases or projects to be developed contributing to the overall vision
Enablers
in the future aligned to a holistic
strategy • Use cases will target the greatest
Use case deep-dive and quickest impact for the end
• Framework will prevent siloes and on next slide user while building a replicable
allow greater oversight process for future priorities

Output: Framework; vision, pillars and enablers Output: Priority use cases; business and high-level
technical requirements
87
Framework | For each prioritised use case we shall now define the required digital
stack and enabling environment

Prioritized on day 1
End Users and Solutions
Accelerate development of digital innovations for priority farmer and decision maker use cases

Digital Stack
Develop necessary digital layers to support product development and interoperability
(User Facing Layer, Integration Layer, Data and Content…)

Enabling Environment
Develop policies, human capital, infrastructure and private sector to enable digitalization of the sector

88
 Deep Dive | For prioritized use cases we will discuss the requirements across different
components of the digital stack and enabling environment

Use cases and solutions

Advisory & Smart Financial Pricing & Market Supply Chain
Solution areas Ag Intelligence
​ Extension Services Farming ​ Services Services Management

Digital stack
User Facing Layer Information Transactions Delivery Technologies
(Applications & Tools) (incl. crop, pricing, market, weather, etc.) (incl. credit, input, warehouse receipts, etc.) (incl. IVR, SMS, Farm Radio, etc.)

Integration Layer Integration Features Analytics Functions

(Platforms & Pathways) (incl. secure gateway, standards & interoperability, etc.) Layer (incl. enrollment patterns, credit algorithms, etc.)

Data & Content Farmer Related Productivity Related Market Related

(Agriculture & Adjacent) (incl. farmer registries, financial history, etc.) (incl. soil registries, weather data, etc.) (incl. price data, trade data,, etc.)

Enabling environment
Digital Infrastructure Innovation & Technologies Physical Infrastructure
(incl. mobile penetration, broadband, cloud services, etc.) (incl. blockchain, AI, machine learning, etc.) (incl. roads, irrigation, cell towers, aggregation centers, etc.)

Governance and Policy Agricultural Markets Human Capital & Infrastructure

(incl. ICT policy, data policy, digital ag initiatives, farmer support, etc.) (incl. inputs, value addition, trade barriers, etc.) (incl. gender & social structure, literacy levels, user engagement/trust, etc.)

89
Digital stack | Architecture that integrates user interfaces, data processing, analytics,
and infrastructure to power digital solutions

User facing layer Integration layer Analytics layer Data & content

Interface between the digital Middleware that facilitates the Core component that manages Information in many forms
solution and its users e.g., smooth flow and integration of and processes data, ensures e.g., crop information, weather
8028 push notifications, or data across different systems integrity and accessibility and data, market trends, and
apps and services e.g., APIs develops insights educational resources

90
Enabling environment | Pre-requisites for digital agricultural transformation, that
promote innovation and ensure sustainable growth within the agricultural sector

Innovation & technology Digital infrastructure Agriculture markets

The adoption and development of Infrastructure supporting connectivity Encompasses platforms and tools that
cutting-edge technologies and and digital tool use, such as connect farmers with markets, as well
innovative practices within the digital smartphones, tablets and data packages as the markets and economic structure
agriculture ecosystem themselves

Physical infrastructure Government and policy Human capital & infrastructure

Refers to the essential physical assets Rules and guidelines set by authorities Digital skills, knowledge, and expertise
and facilities needed to support that enable the growth of digital as well as human resources, and the
agriculture, including cell towers, roads, innovations, shaping the ecosystem in digital literacy required for adoption of
warehousing and farmer centres which these solutions operate tools

91
 Welcome remarks 09:00 – 09:15
Align on highest priority use cases 09:15 – 09:45
Introduction to the digital stack and enabling environment 09:45 – 10:45
Coffee break 10:45 – 11:00
Speeches from Ethiopian digital stack and enabling initiatives 11:00 – 12:20
Day 2 agenda International benchmark case studies 12:20 – 13:00
Lunch 13:00 – 14:00
Breakout session on digital stack and enabling environment 14:00 – 16:20
Breakout group presentations 16:20 – 16:50
Closing remarks 16:50 – 17:00

104
 Case studies | We can take inspiration from international best practice to support
development of the key elements of the stack & enabling environment
End users and solutions

Advisory & Smart Financial Pricing & Market Supply Chain

Solution areas Ag Intelligence
​ Extension Services Farming ​ Services Services Management

Digital stack

User Facing Layer Information Transactions Delivery Technologies

(Applications & Tools) (incl. crop, pricing, market, weather, etc.) (incl. credit, input delivery, warehouse receipts, etc.) (incl. IVR, SMS, Farm Radio, etc.)

Integration Layer Integration Features Analytics Functions

(Platforms & Pathways) (incl. gateway, standards, interoperability, etc.) Layer (incl. enrollment patterns, credit algorithms, etc.)

Data & Content Farmer Related Productivity Related Market Related

(Agriculture & Adjacent) (incl. farmer registries, financial history, etc.) (incl. land and soil registries, weather data, etc.) (incl. price data, trade data,, etc.)

Enabling Environment
Digital Infrastructure Agricultural Markets Physical Infrastructure
Innovation & Technologies
(incl. mobile penetration, broadband, cloud (incl. inputs, value addition capabilities, (incl. roads, irrigation, cell towers,
(incl. blockchain, AI, machine learning, etc.)
services, etc.) trade barriers, etc.) aggregation centers, etc.)

Government and Policy Human Capital & Infrastructure

(incl. ICT policy, data policy, digital agriculture initiatives, farmer support, etc.) (incl. gender and social structure, literacy levels, user engagement and trust, etc.)

105
Subject of case study
International Benchmarks | Ethiopia can learn lessons from initiatives within the
enabling environment and digital stack from best-in-class benchmarks

Country Ecosystem Element Case Study

Digital Stack |
India Aadhaar ID
Farmer Data
Digital Stack |
India India Stack
Integration
Enabling Environment | Rwanda's Digital
Rwanda
Digital Infrastructure Transformation
Enabling Environment |
India IT Capacity Building
Human Capital
Enabling Environment |
Kenya Kenya's Silicon Savannah
Innovation & Technologies
106
 Digital Stack: Data
and Content

Data and Content case study | India's Aadhaar ID system has enabled farmer access
to credit, subsidies and markets
Context and challenge

• Only 40-60% population covered by any ID in 2008; rural & poor excluded
• Farmers struggled with verification for access to inputs, finance & land
records
• Huge leakage in the system through miscalculations and corruption

Impact and success factors

Summary of solution

What is it? Success in numbers Farmer impact

• 12-digit individual identification number which serves as proof of identity • 1.3bn registered (93% population) • ~$27bn received by farmers via
and proof of address for residents of India • $9bn saved in system leakage1 Aadhaar-based income support4

How does it work? Success factors

• Aadhaar ID collects an iris scan, fingerprint scan and photograph • Ensured systems were interoperable for private sector plug-in e.g., payments
• Establishes uniqueness based on demographic and biometric information • Built a highly expert team from private sector, public, academia and NGOs,
• Provides universal identity infrastructure used by any identity-based app including Silicon Valley technicians, bankers, economists, lawyers & journalists
• Established stringent data privacy and security policy early to build trust
What agricultural use cases are targeted? • Built it with key use cases (inc. benefits) to incentivize enrollment
• Financial services: Allows bank accounts through Aadhaar e-KYC process,
and uses payment systems for mobile wallets and online banking
• Subsidies: Payments for inputs are linked to Aadhaar ensuring that the Implications on Use Case Prioritisation
subsidies reach the intended beneficiaries directly, reducing leakage • National Digital ID and profile exercises underway – could be built upon
• Marketplaces: E-marketplaces use Aadhaar for KYC purposes • Incentivization (e.g., subsidy schemes) needed to increase enrolment
• Land Records Modernization: Linking land records with Aadhaar helps in the • Need to accept wide range of proofs of identity to better serve rural or poor
clear identification of land ownership 11 of the defined use cases2 could be enhanced by digital farmer ID

107
1. Business Today; 2. Access credit, Lease or Purchase machinery, Access to insurance, Access investment, Access better markets and buyers, Understand up-to-date transparent pricing for products, Assure quality of outputs, Sort and grade output, Deliver timely
interventions to protect crops or livestock, Develop carbon and climate credentials for markets, and Improve livestock management; 3. KYC: Know Your Customer, NGO: Non-governmental organization 4. Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
 Digital Stack:
Integration

Integration Case Study | India Stack allows real-time accessibility of key data,
ensuring interoperability among different digital services
Context and challenge

• Reliance on paper-based processes was prone to fraud and inefficiencies

• Significant digital divide existed, with internet penetration at <5% in 2008,
impacting rural areas the most

Impact and success factors

Summary of solution

What is it? Success in numbers Farmer impact

• Comprehensive suite of digital public goods that aims to revolutionize • ~$120bn transacted on UPI in 20231 • 1.14tn INR transacted real time
service delivery in India by leveraging technology to enable a digital society • ~170m registered on DigiLocker2 allowing immediate payments

How does it work? Success factors

• Builds upon the foundation laid by Aadhaar to address a broader spectrum • Built on the existing infrastructure/foundation to speed up implementation
of digital infrastructure challenges • Developed a digital payment system focusing on accessibility and inclusiveness
• Utilizes a set of APIs that private sector companies can use to allow for real- • Established consent-based data sharing framework, fostering trust with users
time accessibility of key data early on
• Robust legal and regulatory environment3 supported the development
What agricultural use cases are targeted?
• Farmer ID: Enables secure and verifiable digital identity through Aadhaar,
simplifying access to a wide range of government and private services Implications on Use Case Prioritisation
• Financial inclusion: Facilitates this by making banking and payment services • National Digital ID and profile exercises underway – could be built upon
accessible to underserved areas, through UPI • Need for coordination between various initiatives
• Interoperability: Ensures this among different digital services, enabling
startups and businesses to innovate and offer diverse digital solutions All 5 defined solution areas4 could be enhanced by data interoperability

1. Economic Times 2. Outlook India 3. Included the Payments and Settlement Systems Act and continuous regulatory oversight to ensure the growth of digital payments 4. Smart farming,
108
Financial Services, Pricing and Markets, Supply Chain & Ag. Intelligence
 Enabling Environment:
Digital Infrastructure

Digital Infrastructure Case Study | Rwanda's digital transformation has resulted in

streamlined agricultural supply chains, live pricing and improved extension access
Context and challenge

• With limited mobile coverage, farmers found it challenging to

communicate with suppliers, buyers, and agricultural experts
• Farmers were often unable to connect with broader markets, with 3G
coverage <10% in 2010

Impact and success factors

Summary of solution

What did they do? Success in numbers Farmer impact

• Rwanda developed a digital transformation strategy that fosters a • Rwanda has 99% 4G coverage1 • Limited rural urban gap allowing
conducive environment for digital innovation access to timely advisory and
pricing
How did they do it? Success factors
• Underpinned by robust government support, strategic partnerships, and • Government leadership and support was pivotal in driving transformation
policy frameworks • Efforts to train millions in basic digital literacy were crucial to ensure wide
• Included investments in digital infrastructure to increase connectivity, accessibility
initiatives to boost digital literacy • World Bank financing ($100m) was crucial in increasing access to broadband
and selected digital public services
What agricultural use cases are targeted?
• Mobile Banking: Increased mobile coverage allowed farmers to use mobile
money services for transactions and accessing credit Implications on Use Case Prioritisation
• Weather Forecasting: Access to real-time weather information via mobile
helped farmers plan agricultural activities more effectively • Leverage and Build on Digital Ethiopia 2025 initiative3 for training
• Social Networking: Enhanced mobile coverage allowed farmers to join • Large investments in digital infrastructure will have to be made to raise
agricultural social networks for peer support and knowledge sharing Ethiopia's coverage from 34.9%2
• Solutions should utilize IVR/USSD, leveraging Ethiopia's 85% 3G coverage2

1. International Telecommunication Union (ITU) 2. GSMA Mobile Connectivity Report 2023 3. Digital Ethiopia 2025 initiative includes a program called "Digital Ethiopia for All," which aims to
109
provide digital literacy training to 10 million Ethiopians by 2025 4. GSMA - Rural Coverage Country case studies
 Enabling Environment:
Human Capital

Human Capital Case Study | Proliferation of solutions due to numbers of IT experts,

as well as cheaper solutions accessed by farmers
Context and challenge

• Scarcity of skilled IT professionals limited the country's capacity for

innovation and technological development
• Economy was not able to fully leverage technology for growth due to the
shortage of skilled workers

Impact and success factors

Summary of solution

What did they do? Success in numbers Farmer impact

• India cultivated a high number of IT professionals, making it one of the • No. of IT professionals at 5.8m1 • 56/134 countries on digital skills
largest sources of information technology talent in the world • Pool almost tripled in 15 years1 resulting in higher digital adoption
and more, cheaper IT products
How did they do it? Success factors
• Substantial pool of IT talent is a result of several factors, including a strong • Strong focus on STEM education
educational system, a large population base, and targeted government • Government policies promoting IT sector growth
initiatives to promote IT and software development • Strategic alliances with global IT corporations, like Google and Microsoft that
aimed to enhance cloud computing skills among Indians
What agricultural use cases are targeted? • Robust demand for IT services both domestically and internationally
• Digital Agricultural Platforms: Farmers got access to platforms for timely
information, aiding in better decision-making
• Precision Agriculture: Farmers benefited from advanced technologies like Implications on Use Case Prioritisation
IoT and drones to improve crop yields and reduce waste
• Capacity Building and Education: Farmers gained from specialized IT • Build and scale digital literacy programs, like Digital Ethiopia 2025 initiative2
training and resources, enhancing their farming practices and financial • Engaging private sector will be important to accelerate human capital
management skills development and implementation of priority use cases

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1.Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) 2. Digital Ethiopia 2025 initiative includes a program called "Digital Ethiopia for All," which aims to provide digital literacy training to 10 million Ethiopians
by 2025
 Enabling Environment:
Innovation & Technologies

Digital Infrastructure Case Study | Kenya's Silicon Savannah proves to be great

incubator for innovation aimed at assisting farmers
Context and challenge

• Regulatory burden stifled innovation and discouraged entrepreneurship

• Significant disparity existed in internet access and digital literacy between
urban and rural areas

Impact and success factors

Summary of solution

What did they do? Success in numbers Farmer impact

• Kenya focused on being a hub of innovation & technology, positioning it as • 30m active users on M-pesa in Kenya • Start-ups like Hello Tractor,
a leader in African technological development and digital entrepreneurship DigiCow and many more
Success factors supporting farmers
How did they do it?
• Government's proactiveness in implementing policies that support the growth
• was propelled by robust investment in tech education and government and
of the tech sector, like Vision 2030, was crucial
private sector initiatives1 aimed at fostering innovation ecosystems
• Universities and educational institutions offering specialized courses in IT,
What agricultural use cases are targeted? computer science, and related fields ensured a steady supply of skilled experts
• Mobile Money for Financial Inclusion: Platforms like M-Pesa allow farmers • Continuous investments in digital infrastructure have created an enabling
to receive and pay for agricultural inputs conveniently environment for tech businesses to thrive
• Agricultural Apps for Market Prices: Apps such as M-Farm give farmers
real-time access to market prices, helping them make informed decisions Implications on Use Case Prioritisation
• Supply Chain Management via Technology: Tech innovations streamline
the agricultural supply chain, enabling farmers to connect directly with • Engaging Private sector will be useful in accelerating development of enabling
buyers environment
• Remote Sensing for Crop Monitoring: Innovations in remote sensing
allowing farmers to monitor crop health from their mobile devices All 5 defined solution areas2 to be enhanced by fostering innovation ecosystems

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1. Science, Technology, and Innovation Act 2013, Micro and Small Enterprises Act of 2012 & The Companies Act 2015 2. Smart farming, Financial Services, Pricing and Markets, Supply Chain & Ag. Intelligence
 Welcome remarks 09:00 – 09:15
Align on highest priority use cases 09:15 – 09:45
Introduction to the digital stack and enabling environment 09:45 – 10:45
Coffee break 10:45 – 11:00
Speeches from Ethiopian digital stack and enabling initiatives 11:00 – 12:20
Day 2 agenda International benchmark case studies 12:20 – 13:00
Lunch 13:00 – 14:00
Breakout session on digital stack and enabling environment 14:00 – 16:20
Breakout group presentations 16:20 – 16:50
Closing remarks 16:50 – 17:00

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Enabling environment | DAR will build upon and align to existing policies and
strategies like Digital Ethiopia 2025

Government and Policy Deep-dive: Digital Ethiopia 2025 has four structural pillars to align DAR to

Current state
Strong agricultural policy frameworks but
limited or restrictive in digital agriculture

New focus to increase private sector

engagement

MINT Legislation and initiatives

Developed or developing e-commerce laws,
personal data law, and e-signature law

Provide work permits, tax breaks and

competency certifications to private sector Digital ID Digital Payments E-commerce Cybersecurity
Set up digital ID for Widen digital financial Boost e-commerce to Enhance national
Potential of focus Ethiopians, improving access, developing grow the digital cybersecurity frameworks
access to services, secure and effective economy, focusing on and capacities to protect
Align policy and extension between regions transaction security, payment better laws, logistics, against cyber threats,
Strengthen regulatory enforcement for and governance with infrastructures and payments, and online safeguard data privacy and
existing policies and standards better data accuracy regulations consumer rights security

Create data sharing policy to improve data

use efficiency across stakeholders
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