Nokia Life Tools

TED's website reports about the emerging mobile technology - Nokia Life Tools (NLT). It is a range of innovative agriculture information and education services designed especially for rural and small town communities in emerging markets. Accurate and regular information on weather, prices and availability of seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and prevailing market prices for the produce are sent to directly to farmers; while the Education service of Nokia Life Tools aims to give students a decisive advantage by boosting their English language and local, national and international general knowledge -- delivered to the palm of their hand.

For more stories and videos on what Nokia is doing, visit Nokia Conversations.

CTA Seminar Opened Today

I have arrived safely in Ouagadougou on the 26th October 2008. Today, the seminar has been officially opened by the Minister of Agriculture, Hydraulics and Fisheries of the Republic of Burkina Faso Mr Laurent Sedogo. The event was also attended and addressed by the representative of EU in Burkina Faso Dr Amos Tincani, Director of CTA Dr Hansjorg Neun and the Deputy Executive of Sectretary of CLISS Mr Issa Bikienga. The Director of UNEP, Dr Achim Steiner addressed the participants through a video link. More information to be posted soon.

CTA SEMINAR ON IMPLICATIONS OF CLIMATE CHANGE FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

The Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) will host a 5 day seminar on

implications of global climate change for sustainable agricultural production in ACP countries

in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso from 26th to 31st October 2008. The objectives of the seminar are to:

(i) Raise the awareness of policy makers and rural communities about the way in which climate change is affecting agricultural and rural development;

(ii) Identify the information and communication needs of decision makers and rural communities so they can protect their livelihood systems against climate change;

(iii) Identify strategies that will meet the information needs of policy makers and rural communities in ACP countries.

I am invited to attend this seminar and shall try to post something about the presentations and other activities. You can view the detailed programme here