Deadline: 14-Jul-2020
Are you passionate about agriculture technology? Do you have ideas that will enhance the agriculture of Pakistan? If yes, then apply now to enter the AgriSurge Innovation Challenge.
Themes
Applicant must develop a prototype of the solution over the challenge time frame.
- Enhancing market linkages: Examples include:
- E-Commerce for improving livelihoods and market access by vulnerable farmers, in particular in the context of Covid 19. Farm to Market (B2B) and Farm to Home (B2C) solutions;
- Logistics – to provide farmers with an economically viable transport solution (Less than a truckload);
- Dealer’s network for rental of tractors, farm equipment and heavy machinery;
- Create a Dealer’s network for agricultural inputs such as quality seed, fertilizer, etc.
- Smart agriculture advisory services: Examples Include:
- Instant weather forecast overlaid on crop cycles (with advisory services to Farmers in Urdu);
- Link weather forecast, pest, and disease outbreaks (advisory services to Farmers in Urdu);
- Assessing Soil Health using sensors to promote use of “4R’s” among Farmer.
- Digitized livestock count at village level: Example Includes:
- IT-based livestock headcount for relevant Government Office.
Issues/Challenges
After deliberations with the stakeholders, following issues/challenges have been identified.
- Optimal usage of water;
- Warehousing of agro products;
- Livestock management;
- Skills & training of farmers;
- Credit availability/access;
- To finance for farmers;
- Local R&D and good quality seed;
- Agro products and services marketplace for farmers;
- Lack of entrepreneurship.
Award Information
- Making visions a reality. Ignite will award three top innovative solutions to bring the vision to life — and to help it create a sustainable, meaningful impact for years to come.
- 1st place Team will receive PKR. 500,000/-
- 2nd place Team will receive PKR. 300,000/-
- 3rd place Team will receive PKR. 200,000/-
- A special cash prize will be awarded to women majority teams, conditional to the solution presented.
- Winning teams will have a chance at admission to a National Incubation Centers.
- Winning solutions will be shared with FAO country offices for potential uptake and scalability.
Eligibility Criteria
- The Challenge is open to teams of men and women who are interested in technology and innovation and have a viable idea to develop within the scope of the themes proposed. Participation is open to individuals aged 18 and older. Women and youth are highly encouraged to register.
Judging Criteria
- Data-Driven: Innovative data-driven solution, able to add value to context specific agricultural productivity issues in Pakistan.
- Affordability: The solution should be accessible and affordable to a wide range of people.
- Usability: Proposed solution should meet end-user requirements and sufficiently scalable to be used by smallholder farmers and community with different languages, levels of education and digital literacy in Pakistan.
- Potential Impact: Applicant should demonstrate a real understanding of the situation that their solution is helping to address.
- Privacy & Security: Adherence to any data protection laws of Pakistan.
- Growth Potential: The solutions shall be sustainable, with respect to both financial and environmental considerations.
For more information, visit https://www.ignite.org.pk/agrisurge/public/index.html
