Deadline: January 31, 2014
The 2nd Edition of the Youth in Agriculture Blog Competition (YoBloCo Awards) is underway! This contest is organised in the framework of the ARDYIS project, which aims to raise youth awareness and improve their capacity on agricultural and rural development issues in ACP countries using Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). The contest is organized by the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation ACP-EU (CTA), in collaboration with FARA, Yam-Pukri, CAFAN, AYF, ANAFE, SPC/PAFPNET and e-Agriculture.
The aim of this blog competition are to:
- Put into limelight issues, successes and challenges faced by youth engaged in: agriculture in urban and rural areas;
- Encourage the production of information and the use of new information and communication technologies by young farmers’ groups and organisations interested in the “youth in agriculture” question;
- Promote the sharing of information on the issues of agriculture and rural development in African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries.
Eligibility
The YoBloCo Awards are open in two categories:
a. Individual category
This category is open to students in agricultural training courses, young farmers, journalists or other young people interested in ICT or agriculture.
b. Institutional category
This category is open to local or national
- young farmers’ organisations;
- young members of farmers’ organisations;
- young members of any organisation interested in agriculture, rural development and ICT.
Content of eligible blogs
- The blog submitted can be a newly created one, or an existing one but which has been recently updated with content related to agriculture. However, mainly blog posts from the commencement of the competition will be judged.
- A blog that deals with, or contains posts/articles on subjects other than agriculture must include, consistently, new articles related to agriculture, in order to be considered eligible.
Articles on the blog should cover themes or issues such as:
- Challenges, success and issues faced by Youth in agriculture and related activities;
- Climate change, environmental conservation, natural resource management;
- Agri-business (marketing, commercialization, processing, etc.);
- Agricultural production and Food security;
- Agriculture value chains and agricultural policy;
- Actions, policies and strategies related to youth involvement in agriculture;
- ICT use in the agricultural sector (how can ICTs promote agriculture or how can ICT support innovation in agricultural value chains, ICT and agriculture policies, ICT and extension services etc.);
- How are ICTs improving (or can improve) youth opportunities in rural areas;
- Agro-tourism;
- Contribution of Diaspora in ACP Agriculture;
- The role and importance of Family Farming and Smallholder Farming in alleviating hunger and poverty, providing food security and nutrition, improving livelihoods, managing natural resources, protecting the environment, and achieving sustainable development, in particular in rural areas. (see Note 4 below);
- Any other agriculture related theme or issue.
Prizes
A. Individual category
- 1st Prize: 1,500 Euros
- 2nd Prize: 1,000 Euros
- 3rd Prize: 800 Euros
B. Institutional category
- 3000 Euros per region (West Africa, Central Africa, Southern Africa, East Africa, Caribbean and Pacific)
C. Special Prizes
- Best female blogger: 1000 Euros (only individual blogs will be eligible for this prize)
- Best blog on Family Farming (see Note 4 below): 1000 Euros (an individual or institutional blog may be eligible for this prize)
- Best blogs with business potential: at least two blogs will be selected, out of the best finalist individual blogs selected by the public, to receive mentorship and incubation opportunities
D. Runners-up
- A number of runners-up in will receive a certificate of participation
- Winning blogs and other best blogs will be promoted by CTA and its partners’ various channels. In addition, authors of winning blog or other best blogs will have the opportunity to be involved in future activities of CTA or its partners.
For more information, click here.
