The Importance of ICTs in the Provision of Information for Improving Agricultural Productivity and Rural Incomes in Africa

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) developments have taken place in Africa with the significant growth over the past decade. This paper looks at the evidence on the role of emerging ICTs in the agricultural sector in Africa with lessons from Asia with respect to farmers’ access to information and other services that would help improve agricultural productivity, practices, and farmer livelihoods. It suggests that countries should avoid monopoly situations and encourage pluralistic providers to induce competition for higher efficiency and lower costs to consumers.