"Farming is not just a job, it's a way of life."
This pearl of wisdom was shared with me by a friend, a proud smallholder farmer. The digital era, upon us now, presents new frontiers for these custodians of the land. Within this exciting landscape lies a tool of immense power: data.
In a heartening exchange with a seasoned smallholder farmer, he likened data to a compass, navigating farmers towards a prosperous and sustainable future. That's the essence of our narrative today. As Confucius said, "To know what you know and what you do not know, that is true knowledge."
Imagine it's 2030. Smallholder farmers are now well-versed, well-equipped, and well-engaged in their digital sojourn. They sift through troves of information and insights, understanding their farms' data, which extends from crop productivity to farming output levels. They are not mere observers but active participants in data marketplaces, leveraging digital literacy to enhance their livelihoods.
Now, let's reel back to our present reality. However idyllic the imagined future, it contrasts starkly with the agricultural landscape of today. Smallholder farmers, especially in least developed countries, grapple with limited access to technology and are often daunted by the digital divide. What hurdles stand in the way of this transformative journey?
The shortfall of digital literacy casts a long shadow. Bridging the knowledge gap is a mammoth task requiring concerted efforts from agricultural cooperatives, governments, stakeholders, producers, and consumers. The mission isn't only about honing tech-savviness, but also cultivating awareness about the data being generatedand the means to use it effectively.
Envision a future where farmers utilise their data to construct global agri-food databases, furnishing insights on weather changes, crop health, community support, and much more. This is not just an ambitious thought but an aspiration for a genuine digital democracy for all.
The concept of data sovereignty is pivotal in this conversation. Consider the Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) research on farmer's rights to data, information, and knowledge. Their findings confirm it is time we challenge the status quo, one where data access is predominantly held by large-scale farmers and service providers and smallholder farmers are often overshadowed.
We need to foster a culture of transparency around data ownership, data rights, data privacy, and data security. This includes a greater understanding of legal frameworks and nurturing scientific data skills among farmers. Language barriers should not be an obstacle in a farmer's digital quest during a time of unprecedented increase in worldwide, screen based visual communications.
Take a moment to reflect on the inspiring story of Rani, a smallholder farmer from a remote village in India. Despite initial trepidation, she chose to embrace digitisation, joining a local initiative that educated her on using simple data tools to manage her farm better. Today, Rani is not only prospering in her community, but also mentoring others who also wish to upskill and better their financial position.
That's the power of digital transformation.
So, here's my call to action for entrepreneurs, government agencies, and the private sector: let's collaborate to bridge the digital chasm. We need to cultivate a mindset where smallholder farmers recognise the value of their data. Knowledge, after all, is power.
The narrative of 2030 is not mere wishful thinking but an achievable reality. The question is, are we prepared to contribute to this transformational journey? It's our chance to redefine the agri-food landscape, one digitised smallholder farmer at a time.
In the end, as we move towards a digitally empowered future, let's not forget my friend’s wisdom - farming is not just a job, it's a way of life. Let’s strive to make it a better one for our smallholder farmers.
