The KijaniSpace orientation webinar was a great success, we brought together 42 stakeholders from different institutions, such a big achievement for me.
The highlight of the webinar was the emphasis on keeping the user in mind and at the centre as we continue to innovate on the Kijanibox. I was also encouraged by the sense of opportunity that stakeholders saw in what the project is doing. We had two organizations directly expressing interest in co-organizing hackathons and developing training modules and courses with the project.
The webinar brought out some very good insights, especially during the question and answer session, for instance, the advice to bring farmers on board early, ensure that our recommendations and outputs are practical, and production of downscaled, precise, and targeted information that will enable easy adaptation of our solutions in the region.
The webinar was indeed productive and timely for the KijaniSpace consortium, now we move forward with more light shed on how we should manoeuvre this terrain of climate-smart agriculture enabled by Copernicus data and Internet of Things infrastructure. I look forward to the next practical steps and milestones.”
Background
Agriculture is the cornerstone of economic advancement in the African region, contributing approximately 17% to sub-Saharan Africa’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and engaging around 42% of the continent’s labour force. Nevertheless, this sector encounters notable obstacles, including unpredictable weather patterns, extended drought periods, and severe flooding. These challenges disproportionately impact small-scale farmers, who depend on conventional techniques and have restricted access to technological innovations. Small-scale farmers, constituting the majority of agricultural practitioners, are particularly susceptible to the repercussions of climate change.
To tackle these issues, the KijaniSpace initiative harnesses Copernicus Earth Observation (EO) data and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies to facilitate climate-smart agriculture. Copernicus, the European Union’s flagship EO program, furnishes complimentary and unrestricted access to high-resolution satellite data, which is amalgamated with local IoT infrastructure to provide practical insights for small-scale farmers, policymakers, and agribusinesses. The project’s fundamental innovation, the KijaniBox, serves as an online platform tailored to streamline the accessibility and usability of Copernicus data in conjunction with local IoT data.
The KijaniSpace initiative will undergo a trial phase in the Great Lake Victoria Basin, a zone characterised by high population density, fertile soils, and diverse agricultural methodologies. Despite its potential, the region grapples with climate-induced vulnerabilities such as soil erosion, water scarcity, and dwindling fish populations. By piloting inventive solutions in this locale, KijaniSpace aims to showcase scalable models for climate-smart agriculture that can be replicated across Africa and contribute to enduring sustainable economic expansion and green employment creation in Africa and Europe through Copernicus and IoT.
KijaniSpace also emphasises capacity enhancement and stakeholder involvement through its Space-IoT Talent and Innovation Programs. These endeavours cultivate local expertise, nurture public-private partnerships, and boost the adoption of digital technologies in agriculture. By amalgamating technological advancement with community empowerment, KijaniSpace endeavours to pave the way for sustainable agricultural practices, economic progress, and enhanced livelihoods in Africa.
Target groups, objectives and methodology of the webinar
The webinar’s target audience comprises Postgraduate Researchers, Developers, Engineers, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and Startups, Universities and Research Institutions, Agriculturalists and Farmer Cooperatives, Civil Society Organizations and Associations, Policy Makers and Government Authorities, Copernicus Networks and Initiatives, as well as Investors and Funding Agencies.
This webinar endeavors to draw attention to the KijaniSpace project, which focuses on enhancing climate-smart agriculture for smallholder farmers in Africa by utilizing Copernicus and Internet of Things (IoT) innovations. It demonstrated its innovative strategy of merging space and IoT technologies and the associated data. The event served as a forum for deliberation, exchanging insights and experiences among diverse experts and stakeholders, and ultimately assessing the viability of the KijaniSpace project.
The webinar lasted two hours, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM EAT. It utilised a methodical and interactive approach to ensure optimal engagement, dissemination of knowledge, and participant satisfaction. The methodology comprises two primary elements: presentations and Q&A sessions.
Webinar structure
| Session | Description | Lead/Panellists |
| Opening remarks | A high-level overview of the webinar’s purpose, structure, key participants and expected outcomes | CEO Kevin Kinusu, African Bioenergy Project Limited, Kenya |
| Introduction to the Kijani Space Initiative | Overview of the project vision, mission, goals, and target project participants | DR.-Ing Abdur Rahim, INNOTEC21 GmbH, Germany |
| Understanding the climate-smart agriculture context in the LVB | Outline the status of climate-smart agriculture in the LVB, highlighting the gaps and challenges in the region | M.Sc Paul Kariuki, Lake Victoria Basin Commission, Kenya |
| Application of EO and IoT in Climate-Smart Agriculture: A case for KijaniBox: The Space-IoT Solution Box? | [Panel Discussion]* Discuss the relevance of EO & IoT in climate-smart Agriculture, gaps, and use cases and similar applications in different contexts*Highlight KijaniBox *Linkage of Space data to the community—IoT talent and Innovation Programs | Moderator: Dr. Kevin Obiero, Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute Panellists: Dr. Biksham, AGSRI Agricultural Services PVT. LTD., India CEO James Odede, LakeHub Foundation, Kenya |
| Pilot Demonstrations and Implementation Strategy | Overview of crop and fish farming pilots, expected impact, and evaluation | M.Sc Ronald Ssembajwe, Agape Innovations Limited, Uganda |
| Q&A/Break | Feedback & insights from the stakeholders | CEO Kevin Kinusu, African Bioenergy Project Limited, Kenya |
| Closing Remarks and Next Steps | Summary, upcoming opportunities for collaboration, and call to action | Dr. Corentin Dupont, INNOTEC21 GmbH, Germany |
