Ulmann, Selina; Gräub, Benjamin; Maiyo, Faith and Dusabe, Lise (2023) Can SMS, IVR and apps enhance organic farming practices in Africa? In: Labarthe, Pierre (Ed.) Sustainability transitions of agriculture and the transformation of education and advisory services: convergence or divergence?: Book of abstract of the 26th European Seminar on Extension & Education (Toulouse, 10-13 July 2023), pp. 181-185.
PDF
- English
(Extended Abstract)
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. 582kB |
Document available online at: https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-04249095
Summary in the original language of the document
Over the last three years, the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), together with partners in Kenya, Rwanda, Mali and Senegal has accumulated a wide range of knowledge on how simple technologies can be used to improve access to organic farming knowledge by smallholder farmers. Over 4400 smallholder farmers in Kenya and Rwanda received SMS-based and app-based training on organic agriculture. This presentation showcases the experiences and derived recommendations for the use of digital technologies for capacity development of smallholder farmers in East Africa. Traditional farmer training and farmer field schools are hugely important in farmer education, but many farmers do not have access to them and its high costs limit their scaling. SMS-based or app-based training, as well as training via interactive voice response (IVR), can be a useful addition that are comparatively inexpensive and can more easily reach a large number of farmers. Raspberry Pi computers are found not suitable for farmer training. This work provides insights into the potential of phones, smartphones, tablets, (OTG) USB sticks and Raspberry Pi computers to improve farmer access to information and training on organic agriculture practices and to promote the growth of organic agriculture in East Africa and beyond. We will highlight the principal aspects when planning, developing and implementing digital trainings for farmers smallholder farmers in Africa.
EPrint Type: | Conference paper, poster, etc. |
---|---|
Type of presentation: | Paper |
Keywords: | Advice, Africa, Data & digitalisation, E-learning, International, Knowledge exchange, Sector development, Abacus, FiBL65240, |
Agrovoc keywords: | Language Value URI English Africa http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_165 English knowledge exchange -> knowledge sharing http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_539fa2f6 English organic agriculture http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_15911 English training http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_7861 |
Subjects: | Knowledge management > Education, extension and communication "Organics" in general > Countries and regions > Africa |
Research affiliation: | Switzerland > FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture Switzerland > Knowledge exchange > Advice Switzerland > FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture Switzerland > International > Regions > Africa Switzerland > FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture Switzerland > Society > Data & digitalisation > E-Learning |
ISBN: | 978-2-9589569-0-5 |
DOI: | 10.17180/y125- |
Related Links: | https://www.fibl.org/en/themes/projectdatabase/projectitem/project/2170 |
Deposited By: | Forschungsinstitut für biologischen Landbau, FiBL |
ID Code: | 52799 |
Deposited On: | 12 Mar 2024 09:20 |
Last Modified: | 12 Mar 2024 09:20 |
Document Language: | English |
Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Peer-reviewed and accepted |
Repository Staff Only: item control page