Ken Lohento
Sr Programme Coordinator, ICT4Ag, CTA
Sr Programme Coordinator, ICT4Ag, CTA
Biography
Ken Lohento has been managing numerous initiatives related to ICT policy and use for development since 1998 in various countries. At CTA, Ken focuses on projects related to ICT innovations and entrepreneurship in agriculture, as well as e-agriculture strategies.
Articles
Blockchain: an opportunity to improve the traceability of sustainable cocoa in Côte d’Ivoire
by Julien Gonnet , Ken Lohento and Brad Mulley
Lack of traceability is a major issue in the cocoa sector in Côte d’Ivoire. The French NGO, Nitidae, believes that blockchain could provide a solution that would fight fraud and promote ethical production. With the support of CTA and blockchain specialists, Gaiachain, Nitidae carried out a project, from February 2019 to April 2020, with a cooperative in the Mé region of Côte d’Ivoire to develop and test a blockchain traceability application. Here is an initial assessment of the ‘Cocoblock’ experience.
Read MorePublications
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Supporting and Scaling Up Youth Agripreneurship in Kenya
This working document present nine articles that discuss the issue of supporting the growth for young agripreneurs in Kenya, with recommendations for stakeholders. Its content goes beyond the VijaBiz project and includes analyses on other youth in agriculture initiatives organised in Kenya. The articles were written by independent authors who responded to a call for articles launched by the CTA and USTADI Vijabiz project. Some of the articles discuss independently VijaBiz project activities focusing on a county or on some groups.
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ICT uses by rural youth in Kenya
This study is produced in the framework of activities of the Vijabiz project implemented by CTA and Ustadi Foundation in Kenya. It aimed at establishing rural youth groups’ access and use of different ICT and social media in their agribusiness activities. The study also sought to assess the gaps and barriers affecting the use of ICTs by rural youth in Kenya and provide recommendations.
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Pathways to Rural Youth Agribusiness Success: Stories from the Vijabiz project
The different cases or stories presented in this booklet are the results from the experience capitalization exercise and give insights into the specific lessons learnt by the workshop participants, through analysis of their involvement in diverse activities of the Vijabiz project and the influence on their businesses.
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Modèles d’Affaires et Facteurs de Succès des Start-Up Numériques Agricoles
Cette étude porte sur de jeunes entrepreneurs fondateurs de start-up offrant des services numériques aux acteurs du secteur agroalimentaire en Afrique de l’Ouest. Elle est basée sur des interviews détaillées, l’analyse de la littérature et de documents secondaires.
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Business models and key success drivers of agtech start-ups
This interpretative phenomenological research focuses on youth-led companies offering digital services to the agrifood sector in West Africa. Youth is considered as per the African Union definition: individuals aged between 15 and 35 years old. Research questions were to understand the business models adopted by these start-ups; how their business models and business model innovation lead to business success; other key drivers that can support the achievement of success.
events
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Feb 3
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Feb 3
African Green Revolution Forum 2019 - Youth in agriculture: Showcasing and scaling models for agripreneurship
Across the continent, young agripreneurs are recognising untapped opportunities in the agrifood sector. Yet, ideally, they would be fostered by a supportive ecosystem to progress faster and more successfully along their journey. The ambition of scaling digitally-enabled, environmentally conscious, market-led ventures to deliver jobs and healthy food, while respecting the natural environment, ca… -
Feb 3
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Feb 3
African Green Revolution Forum 2019 - Project showcase – Marketplace of ag-tech solutions
Agricultural transformation remains one of Africa’s most pressing priorities but has been difficult to achieve. In this context, digitalisation for agriculture (D4Ag) can be a game changer in supporting and accelerating agricultural transformation across the continent. D4Ag has the potential to not only support agricultural transformation but to do so both sustainably and inclusively.…
Projects
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Feb 3
AgriHack Talent
The AgriHack Talent initiative aimed to support ICT innovation and entrepreneurship in agriculture in African, Caribbean, and Pacific countries. It targeted young entrepreneurs aged between 18 and 35 years old. The project was a cornerstone of CTA’s focus on enabling youth involvement in agriculture and supporting employment opportunities.