Africa has one extension worker per 4,000 farmers, compared with one per 200 farmers in developed countries, but this gap could now be narrowed through the use of the internet, mobile phones and iPads, combined with more traditional media, such as radio.
Michael Hailu, director of the Technical Centre for Agriculture and Rural Cooperation, in the Netherlands, said that, even where there is no shortage of extension personnel and funds, smart use of ICTs can help deliver real time knowledge to farmers, especially in poorly staffed and remote corners of Africa. "The continent must try to be as innovative as possible and exploit the growing mobile communications sector to deliver knowledge," he said. "ICTs such as mobile phones are helping farmers to increase production, discover new markets for their produce and gain access to new knowledge and technologies."
Hailu cautioned, however, that it would be a big risk for governments to continue neglecting recruitment of extension services workers, because ICTs could not fill all the needed services. The Food and Agricultural Organisation's Magdalena Blum added that Investment in agriculture extension services needs to increase to 3.5 per cent of the agriculture gross domestic product (GDP). Allafrica.com reports that the conference declaration called for a greater use of ICTs and the media in the provision of advisory and extension services, which should also take into account culture and gender issues.
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