A Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) sponsored competition that will support Ethiopian agricultural entrepreneurs was launched yesterday with a prize fund of an estimated €35,000 (over 1 million Ethiopian birr).
The Green Innovation and AgriTech Slam (GIAS) 2019 competition will identify innovations and ideas that address the critical challenges affecting the wheat, legumes and honey value chains and the digital needs of the entire agricultural value chain.
The nationwide competition has five categories: nutrition and consumer market; agri-inputs and equipment; environmental protection and sustainability; pre-revenue agribusinesses; and post-revenue agribusinesses. GIAS is open to individuals, especially youth and women, private businesses, higher learning institutions as well as government and non-government organisations.
“Digital technologies have the potential to transform the agricultural sector. We are confident that a focus on digital solutions among youth in this regard will help to boost Ethiopia’s future food security and create jobs across the agricultural value chain,” says Ken Lohento, senior programme coordinator, ICT4Ag at CTA.
At least ten winners will be recognised at the Grand Award Ceremony on 14 November 2019. They will benefit from capacity building through mentorship, acceleration of their businesses. In addition to cash awards, the winners will get capacity building training to support their growth and will also get the opportunity to share their ideas during an exposure visit to Germany.
“Agriculture is the cornerstone of the Ethiopian economy. Disseminating agricultural innovations are essential to increase productivity and profitability of smallholder farmers. By strengthening the private sector, up- and downstream enterprises, and promoting entrepreneurship directed towards challenges of the agricultural sector, the service provision for smallholder farmers can be improved,” says Laura de Guevara, GIZ – Green Innovation Centres – Ethiopia.
CTA’s contribution to the activity is part of its Agritech Movers Ethiopia project which is implemented by the Ethiopian organisation Iceaddis. This project is launched in line with the framework of the AgriHack Talent project of CTA. GIZ’s involvement is part of its Green Innovation Centres’ activities.
The Green Innovation and AgriTech Slam is also implemented by Iceaddis on behalf of CTA and GIZ, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), the Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Agency (ATA) and other players.
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