Gendered analysis of ICT-enabled agricultural extension and advisory services : the case of Agro-Tech Smart Ex Model

This work was carried out with the aid of a grant from Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), and with financial support from the Government of Canada, provided through Global Affairs Canada (GAC)This paper deals with strategies to overcome barriers to agricultural extension and advisory services for women in agriculture. In targeting extension services towards women in the agricultural value chain, specific challenges cited in the study surveys are: small farm sizes due to lack of access to land; limited access to credit, input supply, and assets; and inadequate access to tractor services. Men have main access to silos and warehouses for grain storage. Other barriers are lack of access to radio and smart phones, lack of farmer organizations for women, and heavy workloads relating to farm work, care giving, and household chores

Digital platforms for agro-advisory and business service delivery : lessons from scaling-up of AgroTech in Ghana

This work was carried out with the aid of a grant from Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), and with financial support from the Government of Canada, provided through Global Affairs Canada (GAC)The aim is to test the scale up of AgroTech (an ICT platform) in the delivery of agricultural extension and agribusiness advisory services to smallholders through private sector value chain players. AgroTech combines interactive radio broadcast and customized field coaching, bringing together information, inputs and markets through private businesses. The goal of the project is to contribute to policy reform of the agricultural extension system with the view of improving responsiveness, accountability and operational sustainability

Appraisal of the Agro-Tech Smart Extension Model in Ghana : payment options and challenges in ICT-enabled extension services delivery

This work was carried out with the aid of a grant from Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), and with financial support from the Government of Canada, provided through Global Affairs Canada (GAC)The paper presents an overview of agricultural extension services in terms of providers, financing options and advisory services delivery. Farmer demand is high for ICT- enabled extension services delivery. The Grameen Foundation (GFUSA) and Farm Radio International have developed a mobile software application (AgroTech SmartEx) for smallholder farmer management purposes and to support better decision-making towards increased productivity. The AgroTech Model combines ICT-enabled extension and advisory services with direct to farmer interactive radio. Survey data from 400 farmers indicates a high performance rating for the AgroTech Smart Ex Model, where over 70% of respondents consider it to be excellent