The Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, and the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Sierra Leone to launch the Agriculture Innovation Challenge. This challenge will be done during the 3-Day 2024 Sierra Leone Innovates – Tech Summit which will be held at Bintumani Conference Center from the 11th to the 13th June 2024!
If you are a Sierra Leonean innovator residing in and out of Sierra Leone and passionate about showcasing your solution in Agriculture, then this opportunity is for you.
Your innovative ideas should be on these five key themes below:
1. Climate Smart Agriculture: Develop solutions that enhance crop resilience to climate variabilities and optimize water and soil management.
2. Digital Agriculture: Create mobile applications or platforms for better market access, crop management, forecasting, or direct linkage between farmers and consumers.
3. Mechanization and Automation: Innovations that reduce the labor intensity of agriculture and increase efficiency, such as automated irrigation systems or small-scale mechanised tools tailored for local farm conditions.
4. Waste Reduction and Management: Solutions for reducing post-harvest losses or transforming agricultural waste into useful products.
5. Agri-Education through Technology: Develop educational tools that offer agricultural training and advice through digital platforms, enhancing farmers’ knowledge and skills.
Eligibility Criteria:
– Must be a Sierra Leonean residing in or outside of Sierra Leone.
– Can apply as an individual or part of a team of not more than four members.
– Must have a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) to demonstrate.
Participants will be evaluated based on the following:
– Innovation and Originality (20%)
– Alignment with Key Themes (20%)
– Feasibility and Scalability (20%)
– Impact Potential (20%)
– Business Model and Sustainability (20%)
Prizes to be won:
– Funding to develop the project
– Mentorship from experts in agriculture, business, and technology to refine your idea
– Partnership opportunities with the Ministry of Agriculture for pilot testing.
– Support from the Government of Sierra Leone to scale-up your project.
Please note: New Date: 24th May 2024 @ 5:00 pm GMT