Utilizing ICTs in Climate Change Resilience Building Along Agricultural Value Chains in Sub-Sahara Africa

This study, reviewed the challenges faced by agribusinesses in improving their value chains while under risks of climate change and variability in SS Africa. The study is anchored on the The study is anchored on Motivational Model (MM) and Uses and Gratification Theory.It identified challenges facing them as they attempt to adopt ICT. These ranged from poor access to ICT infrastructure, poor rural infrastructure, poverty, illiteracy, market failures, poor governance/institutional barriers and behavioural barriers among others. We also observed that some ICT tools (e.g. GIS, use of wireless communications, early warning systems and E-resilience development) are capable of boosting agricultural productivity of African's smallholder along value chain even when under climate variability. We documented other adaptation measures farmers were adopting to cope with climate change and variability which include altering of production patterns, adopting new technologies and other climate smart agricultural practices from across SSA. The study also identified options available to African agribusiness and authorities to build resilience against climate change risks such as GIS, E-Governance, Wireless Communications and Early Warning Systems. Such ICT tools can raise the agricultural productivity of African's smallholder farmers across the produce value chain under climate variability in various ways. Based on the findings, the provision of ICT infrastructure, capacity building of farmers and authorities; formulation of appropriate policies that can improve the resilience and productivity of agriculture with ICT tools were some of the key recommendations.