WEBINARS AFAAS: Digitalization of extension.

The D4AEAS initiative

Digitalization of agriculture is a game changer in improving the reach, effectiveness and efficiency of agriculture and extension and advisory services. AFAAS will not be left behind. Since the outbreak of COVID -19, online remote working using digital tools has become more relevant on top of adding a safety dimension while staying productive in a threatened world. With partners, AFAAS took advantage of digitalisation to transform the AEAS landscape in Africa.

Objectives for 2020 are three fold:

1. To inform and create awareness about the D4Ag in general, and specifically Digitalisation of AEAS
2. To immerse AEAS actors in the D4Ag space for more productivity and efficiency
3. To engage AEAS actors in Foresight Exercises related to the future of AEAS regarding the D4Ag trends and influence policies

27 August 2021. First webinar. Digitalisation of African Agricultural Report 

- organised by AFAAS in partnership with CTA Legacy.

• Dr Benjamin Kwasi Addom was the key speaker who presented a summary of the Digitalisation of African Agricultural Report (2018 – 2019). 
• Resource: Presentation of CTA Digitalisation Report

24 September 2021. Second webinar. Challenges, questions, solutions, lessons learned from the Access Agriculture

This webinar showcased the digital extension tools shared by Access Agriculture: more than 200 videos and audio files available and translations in 75 different languages. The webinar session was articulated around:

• The context and challenge of African AEAS
• Access Agriculture digital solution
• Democratisation of knowledge
• Summary in 10 lessons 
• Resource: Challenges, questions, solutions, lessons learned from the Access Agriculture webinar

22 October 2020. Third webinar. Farm Radio International

Organised by AFAAS. Watch the video announcement here

This webinar was about the world’s most popular mass medium in rural Africa. Interactive radio, complemented by ICTs like IVR and other mobile phone technology, is the most effective and accessible way to reach farmers with timely agriculture extension messages at scale.

• Evidence has shown that interactive radio has the potential to strengthen the work of traditional extension workers and vice versa. 
• Localized, thanks to the efforts of radio broadcasters, and flexible enough to respond to the individual questions of farmers in rural communities, interactive radio is a key tool in effective extension work, and ensures advisory services reach remote communities with accessible and easy to use information.
• Farm Radio International is using their unique and effective interactive radio approaches to build and augment digital agriculture extension services across sub-Saharan Africa.
• Staff from Farm Radio International presented their experience in developing effective interactive radio programs with their network of more than 1000 radio stations across the African continent. They shared experiences in integrating digital advisory services, including radio, directly into ministries of agriculture.