Tapping the full potential of the digital revolution for agricultural extension: an emerging innovation agenda

Autor: Jonathan Steinke, Jacob van Etten, Anna Müller, Berta Ortiz-Crespo, Jeske van de Gevel, Silvia Silvestri, Jan Priebe
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2021
Předmět:
Zdroj: International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability, Vol 19, Iss 5-6, Pp 549-565 (2021)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 1473-5903
1747-762X
14735903
DOI: 10.1080/14735903.2020.1738754
Popis: Agricultural extension in the Global South can benefit greatly from the use of modern information and communication technologies (ICT). Yet, despite two decades of promising experiences, this potential is not fully realized. Here, we review the relevant research literature to inform future investments into agricultural information services that harness the full potential of digital media. We describe a recently emerging innovation agenda that is, in part, a response to the eventual failure of many new agro-advisory initiatives. One important cause of failure has been a focus on pushing certain technologies, rather than responding to the particular communication challenges of potential users. To avoid such bias in designing new services, the new innovation agenda rests on two major foundations: strong user-centredness and problem-orientation. In our review, we first describe how user-centred design methods help in specifying both problems and (digital) solutions in agricultural extension. To inform responses to the communication challenges defined by that analysis, we then describe eight emerging aspects of using ICT for development, and how they can address common deficiencies of agricultural extension. Practical examples from the literature highlight the possibilities and limitations of these innovation directions. Beyond digital design, however, technological innovation requires enabling institutions.
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals