By MEKONNEN Teshome
(Science and Environment Journalist)
Addis Ababa - January 17, 2023): The Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA) today opened its three-day kick-off meeting organized with a view to launch Digital Earth-Africa project on “Information for Agriculture and Food Security”.
The meeting that brings together participants from Ministry of water, natural resources, and environment (wildlife, forestry), National Agricultural Research Institutes, National Space Agencies, Department of Meteorology, Department of Climate Change, Ministry of Agriculture, National Bureau of Statistics, Universities, Private sector, NGOs, CGIAR centers, UN organizations and Private Sector Companies in Ethiopia, also aims at building a shared understanding of the vision of the DE-Africa project to ensure effective and efficient implementation of the project activities.
According to ASARECA Head of Programs, Moses Odeke, the association has organized the meeting with an objective of raising awareness among these stakeholders about DE-Africa products and services and engage them in a consultative process.
Mr. Odeke told ScienceAfrica reporter in Addis Ababa that ASARECA has implemented the initiative in Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Botswana, Ethiopia, and South Africa.
Mr. Moses Odeke, ASARECA Head of Programs.
He also pointed out that the major expectations of the meeting are achieving strong future partnerships among participating stakeholders, better awareness and uptake of Digital Earth Africa platform and tools, strengthening capacities of ASARECA partner organizations in competencies utilizing earth observation tools and services offered by DE Africa as well as improved support for Africa’s agricultural sector.
Digital Earth-Africa Capacity Development Lead Dr. Kenneth Mubea also on his part indicated that his organization is optimistic that strong partnership and collaboration would be achieved in the region as these stakeholders are coming together in using Earth Observation tools and technologies.
Dr. Kenneth Mubea, Digital Earth-Africa Capacity Development Lead.
As to Dr. Mubea, DE-Africa would do everything it can to provide reliable and operational service to enabling policy makers, scientists, the private sector and civil societies to address challenges of agricultural productivity, environmental and economic development on the African continent and ensure the ecosystem for innovation and creativity as well.
DE Africa will be responsive to the information needs, challenges and priorities of African and it will make its own effort to empower and build the capacity of partners so as to enable them use Earth Observations tools and address major development challenges.
Dr. Tolessa Debebe, representing the Deriector General of the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Dr. Feto Esimo Berisso, also expressed his conviction that the meeting will strengthen the desired partnership and pull off towards the set objectives by ASARECA.
Apart from establishing partnership, participates of the meeting are expected to hold deep dive meeting, 17 -19 January 2023, with users of satellite data, products, and services within the agricultural sector to identify users needs and to strengthen their capacity to access and use EO data in their day-to-day activities.