Strengthening digital agricultural extension and advisory services in smallholder farming
Policy guidance on enhancing digital extension and advisory services
Description
Strengthening digital agricultural extension and advisory services in smallholder farming is a policy-oriented resource designed to provide guidance on enhancing digital extension and advisory services for small-scale farmers. The document examines barriers to digital adoption such as the lack of infrastructure and reception coverage, high cost of digital devices and management and maintenance of information and communications technology (ICT) facilities and products, weak regulatory framework, as well as poor institutional capacity and governance. The document also outlines key enabling conditions and highlights good practices that improve access to timely information, market links, and technical support in rural areas.
Technology
- Desktop/web-based application
- Website
- Social media
- SMS
The resource highlights digital tools such as mobile applications, SMS services, web platforms, and social media channels that facilitate knowledge dissemination and advisory interactions.
Target
- Academia and research institutions
- Agriculture cooperatives
- Civil society organizations
- Farm advisors
- Public sector
- Rural communities
The resource is designed for public extension agencies, researchers, civil society organizations, farmer cooperatives, and smallholder farmers seeking to strengthen digital capacities in advisory service delivery. The report has been downloaded 1 784 times as of December 2025.
Business model
- Fully free
- Donor support
The resource is publicly available and free of charge as part of FAO’s digital policy and knowledge portfolio.
Impact
The resource aims to strengthen the uptake of digital agricultural services, key actors within the digital EAS ecosystem should collaborate and take complementary measures to bridge the supply side and demand side and improve the provision and delivery of digital EAS to a variety of clients, in particular smallholder farmers.
Partners
Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International (CABI); Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences (CATAS)
