Poster: Achieving impact at scale through ICT-enabled extension services in Ghana

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 financially 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.

Key results
• Field agents access the app via tablets to rapidly connect farmers to trusted information, resources, and financial 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
• 575 agricultural radio programs increased farmer knowledge of improved farming practices
• Radio was effective for reaching older farmers who are less likely to use phones
• 11 community listening groups extended radio access for women
• 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%

Cover photo credit: IDRC

This work was carried out with the aid of a grant from Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), www.idrc.ca, and with financial support from the Government of Canada, provided through Global Affairs Canada (GAC), www.international.gc.ca