Scientific Publication

Household-specific targeting of agricultural advice via mobile phones

Abstract

In recent years, agricultural extension services in developing countries have increasingly introduced modern information and communication technologies (ICT) to deliver advice. But to realize efficiency gains, digital applications may need to address heterogeneous information needs by targeting agricultural advisory contents in a household-specific way. We explore the feasibility of an automated advisory service that collects household data from farmers, for example through the keypads of conventional mobile phones, and uses this data to prioritize agricultural advisory messages accordingly.  This research is an output of the Sustainable Agricultural Intensification Research and Learning in Africa (SAIRLA) programme