How do you manage the trick of feeding school children better and at a lower cost? How do you count the number of mangoes on your farm so that you get a fair price? And what's a clever-but-cheap way for a farmer to cut down his irrigation bill? Agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa may have the image of relentless toil and low productivity, but experts say new tech is changing the picture. Farmers, crop buyers and other sector professionals have started to harness smart gadgets and crunch numbers to improve productivity, reduce costs and smooth out wrinkles in the markets, they say. Read also: Prickly pears: 'Humble' cactus brings hope to Algeria 'Digital revolution' "There's a digital revolution unfolding in Africa," says Pascal Bonnet, a deputy director of CIRAD, the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development. "Around the continent, there are excellent researchers in information technology -- digital agriculture is a real opportunity for qualified young Africans." … [Read more...] about Smart tech the new tool for African farmers
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Poor regard for tech-vocational education
When the President signed into law the proposed Tulong Trabaho Act in late February this year, images of the past scandal involving the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) briefly flashed in our minds. Still fresh in our minds is a Commission on Audit (COA) report on TESDA released in 2013 that highlighted a number of questionable payments to 11 technical vocational institutions (TVIs) found to have overpriced tuition fees or shortened training schedules. It was during the time when the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), also known as pork barrel, was still in existence, and where 19 legislators were implicated in the TESDA anomalies, mainly for having supported the questionable TVIs. With billions of pesos made available to TESDA in recent years, either through the national government, the pork barrel system, or donations, the COA not only revealed “non-compliance” to TESDA training standards, but even the presence of “ghost” … [Read more...] about Poor regard for tech-vocational education
Taiwan tycoon and presidential hopeful Gou gets tips from Trump
TAIPEI: Taiwan's wealthiest man and presidential hopeful Terry Gou said he met Donald Trump inside the White House on Wednesday (May 1), with the American leader warning him that the job he is going for is "tough".Gou, the head of tech giant Foxconn, made a surprise announcement last month that he plans to run for president in next January's elections after declaring the sea goddess Matsu urged him to do so.The 69-year-old tycoon is seeking the nomination of the Beijing-friendly Kuomintang (KMT) opposition party but his huge factories in the mainland have sparked concern over his cosiness with Beijing.A stream of Taiwanese politicians have beat a path to Washington in recent months, hoping to drum up support within the island's diaspora and among influential US officials.But only Gou has managed to secure a face-to-face with Trump."If I am elected president of the Republic of China, I will be a peace maker and won't become a trouble maker ... I will strengthen Taiwan and the US … [Read more...] about Taiwan tycoon and presidential hopeful Gou gets tips from Trump
Five UK tech firms to invest in Malaysia
PETALING JAYA: A total of five UK technology organisations are investing in Malaysia, according to a joint statement by the UK Department for International Trade and the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia Malaysia. The ministry said this reinforces the UK’s long-term commitment to Malaysia as a key partner in trade and investment. “It also reflects Malaysia’s attractiveness as an investment destination and as a springboard to the wider Asean market.” The five companies are Ideagen, AuditXPRT, Mitra Innovation, BAE Systems Applied Intelligence and Sage. Minister of Communications and Multimedia Gobind Singh Deo (pix) said as Malaysia continues to implement technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics and cyber security, the investment of more UK tech companies to Malaysia highlights their confidence that Malaysia is moving in the right direction. “The aim of collaboration in the area of technology is incredibly essential not only to aid … [Read more...] about Five UK tech firms to invest in Malaysia
Nigeria deploys satellite tech to track oil smugglers
LONDON: From algorithms to track "dark" ships smuggling stolen crude oil to an online licensing system to undercut corruption, one Nigerian government agency hopes it can use new technology to tackle theft which has cost the country billions.But the initiative by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) may be too late to stem the migration of energy majors to the relative safety of drilling at sea, driven offshore by an illegal trade that Nigeria's sprawling bureaucracy has for decades proved unable or unwilling to tackle.Deep in the maze of creeks in the oil-rich Niger Delta region, thieves tap pipelines and siphon the crude via rubber hoses up to 2 kilometres long into barrels aboard small craft.They then sail alongside larger vessels, allowing the contraband to be pumped ship-to-ship into oil tankers bound for export, usually to Asia - mixed imperceptibly in a ratio as small as 10 percent with the legitimate product.Africa's top oil exporter has turned to French data firm Kpler, … [Read more...] about Nigeria deploys satellite tech to track oil smugglers