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Curt Delice

The AgriExtApp was developed as a tool to digitize agricultural extension services in Caribbean countries at the request of Ministers of Agriculture. It allows farmers and extension officers in Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines to access fact sheets, alerts, crop management information and online assistance through their phones or online. The app has been well received as it facilitates networking, expands the reach of extension services, and provides quality control of information from extension officers to farmers, though challenges include differential internet access and insufficient ICT resources at extension departments.

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101 views12 pages

Curt Delice

The AgriExtApp was developed as a tool to digitize agricultural extension services in Caribbean countries at the request of Ministers of Agriculture. It allows farmers and extension officers in Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines to access fact sheets, alerts, crop management information and online assistance through their phones or online. The app has been well received as it facilitates networking, expands the reach of extension services, and provides quality control of information from extension officers to farmers, though challenges include differential internet access and insufficient ICT resources at extension departments.

Uploaded by

Handin Hand
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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EXPERIENCE OF THE AGRIEXTAPP AS A TOOL FOR DIGITIZING

AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICES IN THE CARIBBEAN REGION


PILOT COUNTRIES

WHY AND HOW 1. ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA

• Direct requests from Ministers of 2. THE BAHAMAS


Agriculture to IICA Director 3. ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
General. April 2020
• IICA´s in-house technical
development of App KEY PRODUCTS
• Collective structure and content 1. FRUITS, ROOTS AND TUBERS CROPS
design among Ministries, Extension
Service officials, Farmers and 2. LIVESTOCK (SWINE, POULTRY, SMALL
IICA staff. RUMINANTS)
• Objective: Assist extension 3. OTHERS
services to increase coverage and
information dissemination,
technology transfer, networking
and quality control.
MAIN FEATURES AND INFORMATION
• DEFINITION OF PROCESSES, TAILORED FOR • CROP MANAGEMENT, CROP AGRONOMY,
EACH COUNTRY GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES, SANITARY
AND PHYTOSANITARY INFORMATION
• ACCESS TO APP ON THE PHONE OR ON THE
WEB • ONLINE ASSISTANCE ON DEMAND
• FACT SHEETS OF KEY CROPS/PRODUCTS • NETWORKS OF USERS BY COUNTRY AND
CROPS/PRODUCTS OR GROUP OF
• ALERTS AND INFORMATION FOR FARMERS
CROPS/PRODUCTS

An App connecting
Caribbean
Extensionists and
Farmers
HOW IT LOOKS?
PROFILE OF TARGET POPULATION
Characteristic Descriptor

Income generation or food production motivation Strong

Community benefits motivation Weak

Minimize production risks motivation Strong

Dependence of agriculture for livelihood Highly

Management horizon Long-term

Access to extension and advisory services Highly

Participation in farmer-based groups Minority

Access to phones capable of supporting a mobile App Mostly

Need to develop new skills and knowledge to use a App Mostly


RESPONSE TO APP

• WELL RECEIVED BY BOTH FARMERS AND EXTENSION STAFF


• MOST FARMERS ARE FAMILIAR WITH SOCIAL MEDIA LIKE WHATSAPP
• TWO MAIN AREAS OF FOCUS FOR FARMERS- CROP AGRONOMY; PEST & DISEASE MANAGEMENT &
MARKET INFORMATION
• FACILITATES NETWORKING FOR FARMER TO FARMER EXPERIENCE CAPITALIZATION
• EXPANDS REACH OF EXTENSION OFFICERS
• PROVIDES GREATER QUALITY CONTROL OF EXTENSION OFFICER TO FARMER MESSAGING
• CAN SERVE AS MONITORING AND/OR EARLY WARNING SYSTEM FOR EXTENSION OFFICERS
• INCREASED VISIBILITY AND PROMOTION OF EXTENSION SERVICES
CHALLENGES

• DIFFERENTIAL ACCESS TO INTERNET SERVICES BASED ON GEOGRAPHIC AREA (CONNECTIVITY)


• LITERACY LEVELS CAN AFFECT INTAKE RATES OF INFORMATION BY FARMERS
• INSUFFICIENT ICT TOOLS/EQUIPMENT IN EXTENSION DEPARTMENTS
• ADMINISTRATION OF APP BY MINISTRIES OF AGRICULTURE MUST BE ACCOUNTED/ALLOCATED
FOR ( UPLOADING OF INFORMATION; UPDATING INFORMATION; SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION)
GOVERNMENT TO GOVERNMENT AGRICULTURAL TRADE PORTAL APP
THANK YOU!!!

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