NEC teams with Côte d’Ivoire Ministry to digitally boost farming

NEC Corporation, in collaboration with NEC Africa (Pty) Ltd., has launched a digital agriculture project with the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Food Production of Côte d’Ivoire to improve agricultural efficiency and productivity. The initiative aims to ensure equitable distribution of agricultural inputs such as seeds and fertilizers and to stabilize harvests by leveraging digital technology to better manage farmer and field information for key crops including rice, cassava, and corn.

Project Background

Côte d’Ivoire’s economy is largely based on agriculture. It makes up 30% of the GDP and offers jobs for almost half of the population. Global crises, such as natural disasters, conflicts, and pandemics, have raised input costs. This makes it hard for farmers to get essential materials. JICA and the African Development Bank are teaming up to boost food security in this emergency. This helped the Ministry of Agriculture create a digital system. They can now manage input distribution and production better.

Digital Solutions for Agricultural Efficiency
NEC is providing two core services for the initiative:

• e-Voucher System: Using ID cards and smartphones, the e-Voucher platform visualizes distribution and usage of agricultural materials. Biometric registration during ID issuance ensures secure and fair access, preventing unauthorized use of benefits.
• CropScope Agricultural ICT Platform: To address the lack of organized farmland data, NEC will deploy CropScope to build a comprehensive database covering 30,000 hectares. The platform will support field inspections, crop growth monitoring, and provide advisory functions recommending optimal fertilization and harvest timing, enhancing yield stability and efficiency.

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Through this project, NEC Corporation aims to strengthen sustainable agriculture and food security in Côte d’Ivoire, demonstrating the potential of digital technology in public-private partnerships to drive agricultural advancement in developing countries.