The challenge Smallholder producers manage more than 70% of Ghana’s farms but achieve only half of their potential yields. There is an urgent need for increased access to agricultural extension and advisory services by smallholder farmers, particularly women. However, public sector services in Ghana have become inancially unsustainable and they are not widely available. As such, millions of smallholder farmers are denied the opportunity to learn and apply improved agronomic practices that would enhance productivity and household food security. Innovations The research led to the development of: • SmartEx, a mobile app that links farmers with agricultural advice, inputs, and markets • Interactive agricultural radio programs to enhance farmer knowledge • Policy papers with recommendations for transforming extension services Key results Enhanced support services: • Field agents access the app via tablets to rapidly connect farmers to trusted information, resources, and inanc ial services • The app connects farmers with business owners who provide agricultural inputs and services on credit to farmers • Agents reached more than 14,100 farmers with information about higher yielding technologies and agricultural advice Reaching smallholders at scale: • 575 agricultural radio programs increased farmer knowledge of improved farming practices • Radio was efective for reaching older farmers who are less likely to use phones • 11 community listening groups extended radio access for women CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL FOOD SECURITY RESEARCH FUND (CIFSRF) Achieving impact at scale through ICT-enabled extension services in Ghana CIFSRF is a program of Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC) undertaken with the inancial support of the Government of Canada, provided through Global Afairs Canada. idrc.ca/ci fsrf ALFRED YEBOAH/GRAMEEN FOUNDATION GHANA Informing public policy: • Four policy papers recommended a more demand-driven approach to service provision by the private sector • The government created a national register of private extension service providers • The register is a irst step toward extend ing private sector provision of advisory services At a glance 91% of farmers indicated a willingness to pay for agricultural advisory and support services Almost 175,000 farmers adopted improved technologies or farm management practices Improved maize practices resulted in an average production increase of 229.9% Partners • Canada: Farm Radio International • Ghana: Grameen Foundation USA Infographics © M. Morán/Sociopúblico & WRENmedia

CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL FOOD extension services in Ghana ... · approach to service provision by the private sector The government created a national register of private extension

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Page 1: CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL FOOD extension services in Ghana ... · approach to service provision by the private sector The government created a national register of private extension

The challenge

Smallholder producers manage more than 70% of Ghana’s farms but achieve only half of their potential yields. There is an urgent need for increased access to agricultural extension and advisory services by smallholder farmers, particularly women. However, public sector services in Ghana have become inancially unsustainable and they are not widely available. As such, millions of smallholder farmers are denied the opportunity to learn and apply improved agronomic practices that would enhance productivity and household food security.

Innovations

The research led to the development of:

• SmartEx, a mobile app that links farmers with agricultural advice, inputs, and markets

• Interactive agricultural radio programs to enhance farmer knowledge

• Policy papers with recommendations for transforming extension services

Key results

Enhanced support services:

• Field agents access the app via tablets to rapidly connect farmers to trusted information, resources, and inancial services

• The app connects farmers with business owners who provide agricultural inputs and services on credit to farmers

• Agents reached more than 14,100 farmers with information about higher yielding technologies and agricultural advice

Reaching smallholders at scale:

• 575 agricultural radio programs increased farmer knowledge of improved farming practices

• Radio was efective for reaching older farmers who are less likely to use phones

• 11 community listening groups extended radio access for women

CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL FOOD

SECURITY RESEARCH FUND (CIFSRF)

Achieving impact at scale through ICT-enabled

extension services in Ghana

CIFSRF is a program of Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC) undertaken with the inancial support of the Government of Canada, provided through

Global Afairs Canada. idrc.ca/cifsrf

ALF

RED

YEB

H/G

MEE

N F

ATI

Informing public policy:

• Four policy papers recommended a more demand-driven approach to service provision by the private sector

• The government created a national register of private extension service providers

• The register is a irst step toward extending private sector provision of advisory services