Author(s):Megan Mayzelle Maria-Paz Santibañez, Jessica Schweiger, and Courtney Jallo
Date Published: June 23, 2015
Afghanistan is well suited for use of information and communication technologies (ICT) in agricultural extension, but no coherent bodies of knowledge regarding the ICT in Afghan extension landscape currently exist. This assessment aims to inform organizations seeking to employ ICT in agricultural development in Afghanistan about current players and recourses, past efforts, and potential keys to success.
Although more than 80% of Afghans are farmers, little or no agricultural extension support is available in Afghanistan, promoting unproductivity, hunger, and poverty. Following decades of war, infrastructure remains largely undeveloped due to difficult geographic and security situations. Nevertheless, the communications sector is relatively well-developed, making ICT a reasonable option for improving access to agricultural information for both farmers and regional extension agents. Among a handful of existing agricultural ICT projects, there remains a dearth of services providing production information to Afghan farmers and extension agents. These circumstances present the opportunity to deliver needs-based production information to farmers and extension agents in the field.
Mobile phone and radio communications are the most promising for agricultural extension. However, major challenges remain, including unreliable electricity, widespread rural illiteracy, and lack of computer skills among potential staff. Furthermore, as international project support is progressively withdrawn, adapting to the current state of ICT and the existing needs of stakeholders in Afghanistan will be key to the sustainability of any new initiatives. Promising options include reformatting existing Internet resources (i.e. RONNA, Paywand, e-Afghan Ag) for SMS and radio delivery in collaboration with well-established stakeholders in various sectors (i.e. Ministry of Agriculture, Salam Watandar, Paywast). Early involvement of such collaborators will help ensure the situational appropriateness and sustenance of such an initiative.