PROJECT STORY | CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL FOOD SECURITY RESEARCH FUND

ACHIEVING IMPACT AT SCALE THROUGH ICT-

ENABLED EXTENSION SERVICES IN GHANA

RADIO AND MOBILE APPS LINK FARMERS TO INFORMATION, SERVICES, FINANCING, AND MARKETS

WHAT CANADIAN AND GHANIAN COLLABORATORS DISCOVERED:

✓ An innovative private sector-led agriculture advisory service (the AgroTech extension services model) that is an affordable and sustainable complement to government-led extension services. This integrated model includes two components:

✓ Field agents equipped with a tablet and specialized app can rapidly connect farmers to trusted information, resources, markets, and financial services

✓ Interactive radio programs as an affordable and effective way (“Direct to Farmer” method) to scale up the use of improved technologies and practices among hundreds of thousands of farmers over vast areas

✓ Improved farmer access to finance, technical advice, business and market information, agricultural inputs and services, and markets

✓ A customized advisory service that farmers are willing to pay for

BY THE NUMBERS

• 500,687 farmers (34.8% women) reached with higher yielding technologies and practices (486,578 farmers reached by radio, 14,109 reached through mobile-equipped field agents)

• 174,821 of these farmers (34.8% women) adopted improved technologies or management practices in 70 districts across 5 regions (163,562 for radio and 11,259 for field agent)

• Improved maize practices resulted in a 229.9% average production increase among participating farmers

• Higher average yield for female Farm Radio International (FRI) listeners compared to non-FRI community members: 2.25 compared to 0.99 for maize and 2.39 compared to 1.95 for rice for non- FRI community member

• 11 women-only Community Listener Groups established

• 6 radio stations (up from 2) aired 575 agricultural programs

• 234 mobile field agents register 14,109 farmers for AgroTech SmartEx, a mobile software application that allows agents to manage and deliver customized information and services to smallholder farmers

• 264 buyers (up from 50) and 234 mobile field agents (up from 47) engaged in 6 regions (up from 3)

• 91% of farmers indicated a willingness to pay for agriculture advisory and support services

THE IMPACT:

The AgroTech advisory platform integrates two proven approaches to extend the reach of agricultural information,

increase the number of field agents, and improve the adoption of good farming practices: field agents supported by an

ICT (information and communications technologies) platform and interactive radio programs. The Grameen Foundation

developed a software application called ‘SmartEx’. Field agents equipped with computer tablets and this mobile app

were able to reach more farmers with a one-stop bundle of agribusiness services and personalized mentoring not

usually available through traditional extension systems. Participating farmers saw their incomes and productivity

increase by shifting from traditional Farmer Field Schools and on-farm demonstrations to community-based extension

services and e-extension systems such as the SmartEx software tool. These services were reinforced by innovative and

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FINAL PROJECT UPDATE | CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL FOOD SECURITY RESEARCH FUND low-cost methods of airing interactive agricultural programs over radio, developed by Farm Radio International. Farmers

with cell phones could call into the radio shows and ask experts about the technologies and their uses, which reinforced

learning. In a country where rural hunger remains all too common, such a model offers new opportunities for

smallholder farmers to learn sustainable, modern farming practices; obtain credit and farm inputs; and find regular

buyers for their crops.

THE CHALLENGE:

There is an urgent need for increased access to agricultural extension and advisory services by smallholder farmers,

particularly women. Unfortunately the dominant public system in Ghana, as in several African countries, has become

financially unsustainable and not widely available, denying millions of smallholder farmers the opportunity to learn and

apply improved and efficient agronomic practices that improve productivity and household food security. Experts in

Canada and Ghana developed and tested new business-led solutions. Digital platforms—notably mobile phones,

participatory radio and video tutorials—rapidly connect farmers to trusted information, resources, markets, and

financial services. The model includes a greater role for the private sector, including ICT-equipped field agents who

source produce for large agribusinesses and provide customized services such as personal loans and “quick access, no

collateral” credit services.

TRANSLATING RESEARCH INTO ACTION

Empowering farmers starts with empowering field agents

“Before I started working with the farmers, most of them weren’t keeping records. They didn’t know much about drought

resistant varieties, but now they are trying to adopt (them). And most of them are keeping their records well.”

Rachel Derchie, Field Agent

• SmartEx app enables field agents to quickly understand and analyze farmers’ needs and crop history, create customized farm management plans, deliver agricultural advice, and help farmers procure loans.

• Business owners who have the incentive and motivation provide agricultural inputs and services to a cohort of farmers on credit. These farmers then pay back the business owners at harvest, usually with produce. This ‘contract farming’ arrangement makes the extension service more professional, grounded, and tailored to the needs of farms. It resulted in higher yields, more sustainable production, and a better recovery rate of input credits.

• Field agents are key to the sustainability of the AgroTech model by providing services to farmers on credit, with repayment made in the form of harvested produce. Sustainability depends on having 100-125 farmers per field agent, with farmer fees of at least USD$3.40 per acre per season.

• Farmers adopt new skills and knowledge to maximize yield and produce quality rice and maize grains (e.g., measuring the farm using GPS; appropriate use of fertilizers and improved seed; improved harvesting and storing techniques; and replacing manual recordkeeping with electronic farm records on tablets).

The power of interactive radio to reach farmers at scale

““I don’t go and just start farming on the land like I used to, where at the end of the day I wouldn’t get anything,” Kusi says. “Now, I know all the qualities of a good site for maize production. It’s helped me get a good yield.”

Kusi Adams, Farmer

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FINAL PROJECT UPDATE | CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL FOOD SECURITY RESEARCH FUND • Targeted radio programs with two hosts (one female and one male) increased farmers’ knowledge, changed their attitudes, and encouraged educated decision-making on adoption of improved farming.

• The project leveraged the existing agricultural system in Ghana by hosting Ministry of Food and Agriculture agents as guests on the radio programs to extend their messages beyond individual or group interactions.

• Radio proved particularly effective at reaching older farmers who are less likely to use phones or text, as well as women who are less likely to own or have access to a phone.

• The creation of women-only community listening groups expanded radio access. Radio programs were also aired at times convenient to women farmers and on meeting days of women farmer groups.

• The educational content of shows complemented with live Q&A call-in segments where farmers shared ideas with other farmers, and experts emphasized the value and ease of technology adoption.

• Radio programs were further reinforced by short, technical messages delivered via SMS/IVR campaigns to service rural, hard-to-reach farmers.

• The staff capacity of 16 radio station was strengthened, including producers and presenters (of 16 staff, 3 are women).

Informing decision-making and public policies

“We need similar solutions like AgroTech that provide well-managed farmer and farm data and insights into the nature of farmers’ challenges and their solutions.”

John Abaka-Quansah, Senior Agriculture Officer

• Four policy papers were provided to the government of Ghana with recommendations for transforming the country’s agricultural extension advisory into a modern, business-oriented, demand-driven, and accountable business service provider led by the private sector.

• Proposed that the government of Ghana create a national Master Agribusiness Digital Platform, owned by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, to maximize the value of the data collected while protecting farmers’ privacy rights. The platform would also establish industry standards.

• The government of Ghana has now created a national register of private extension service providers. This is a first step toward expanding private-sector provision of farm advisory information and services to smallholder food crop farmers. Until now, such advisory services have been largely government-funded and unable to meet farmer demand.

WHAT’S NEXT?

Next steps include transferring the technology platform to a private operator and supporting the Ministry of Food and

Agriculture in promoting the use of ICT-enabled extension and advisory services delivery such as AgroTech. More work is

needed to make the SmartEx model more gender responsive (e.g., linking gender roles and responsibilities along the

value chain and gradual loan repayments). Further expanding the reach of the AgroTech model will also require more

focus on strengthening market access for farmers, providing farmers more flexibility in paying AgroTech agents (e.g., in-

kind, indirect payments, as part of crop insurance), and further studies of the effect of ICT-enabled extension services on

crop yield and profitability.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS PROJECT:

Project abstract: https://www.idrc.ca/en/project/achieving-impact-scale-through-ict-enabled-extension-services-ghana-

cifsrf-phase-2

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FINAL PROJECT UPDATE | CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL FOOD SECURITY RESEARCH FUND KEY OUTPUTS

POLICY BRIEFS

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

Cecil; Yeboah, Alfred; Arthur, Francis; Agbedanu, Emmanuel Edem; Chidiac, Sybil. 2018. URI:

http://hdl.handle.net/10625/57113

Improving agribusiness services delivery in Ghana through ICT-enabled extension: policy brief. Osei, Cecil; Yeboah, Alfred.

2017 URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10625/57111

Improving crop productivity through ICT-enabled agricultural extension services delivery: the AgroTech approach - policy

brief. Osei, Cecil; Yeboah, Alfred (2017) http://hdl.handle.net/10625/57112

Private sector-led business model for meeting changing needs of agribusiness value chains actors in Ghana based on

mobile-based ICT-enabled field agents. Quaye, Wilhemina; Bist, Rahul; Yeboah, Alfred; Osei, Cecil; Asafu-Adjaye, Nana

Yamoah; Fiafor, Benjamin (2018). https://idl-bnc-idrc.dspacedirect.org/handle/10625/57114

ACADEMIC PAPERS

Appraisal of the AgroTech Smart Extension Model in Ghana, Payment options and Challenges in ICT enabled extension

services delivery. International Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension (2017) Wilhemina Quaye, Nana Yamoah

Asafu Adjaye, Alfred Yeboah, Cecil Osei, Emmanuel Edem Agbedanu. https://idl-bnc-

idrc.dspacedirect.org/handle/10625/57110

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

Quaye, Wilhemina; Yeboah, Alfred; Agbedanu, Emmanuel Edem; Asafu-Adjaye, Nana Yamoah (2017-10)

http://hdl.handle.net/10625/57109

Innovation intermediation in a digital age: Comparing public and private new-ICT platforms for agricultural extension in

Ghana, Nyamwaya Munthali, Cees Leeuwis, Annemarie van Paassen, Rico Lie, Richard Asare, Ron van Lammeren, Marc

Schut, NJAS - Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences, (2018) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.njas.2018.05.001

The Role of ICTs in Improving Smallholder Maize Farming Livelihoods: The Mediation of Trust in Value Chain Financing.

Christopher Agyekumhenea, Jasper R. de Vriesa, Annemarie van Paassena, Philip Macnaghtena, Marc Schutb, Arnold

Bregt (2018) IFSA. http://www.ifsa2018.gr/uploads/attachments/138/Theme4_Agyekumhene.pdf

OTHER

Achieving impact at scale (AIS): AIS ICT in Agricultural Extension Policy Roundtable Meeting. Grameen Foundation; Farm

Radio International. (2018) http://hdl.handle.net/10625/57115

Financial viability of AgroTech in inclusive agricultural value chains. Grameen Foundation (2018) https://idl-bnc-

idrc.dspacedirect.org/handle/10625/57117

Formative assessment report: business organization and radio station marketing and sustainability. Grameen

Foundation; Farm Radio International (2017-06). https://idl-bnc-idrc.dspacedirect.org/handle/10625/57116

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FINAL PROJECT UPDATE | CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL FOOD SECURITY RESEARCH FUND VIEW ALL RELATED PROJECT OUTPUTS IN THE IDRC DIGITAL LIBRARY

https://idl-bnc-idrc.dspacedirect.org/browse?type=project&value=108129

QUICK FACTS

Project location(s): Ghana

Institutions: Farm Radio International (Canada); Grameen Foundation USA (Ghana)

Project duration: November 1, 2015—March 1, 2018

Project budget: CA$ 1,496,429

Project number: 108129

THE CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL FOOD SECURITY RESEARCH FUND IS JOINTLY FUNDED BY GLOBAL

AFFAIRS CANADA AND THE INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH CENTRE.