Harnessing Artificial Intelligence in Rural Advisory Services: Insights from the GFRAS Webinar

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On April 16, the Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services (GFRAS) hosted an enlightening webinar titled "Harnessing Artificial Intelligence in Rural Advisory Services," underscoring the potential role of AI in enhancing the effectiveness of extension services for rural communities. Dr. Carl Larsen, Executive Secretary of GFRAS, opened the webinar by emphasizing the need for global Rural Advisory Services (RAS) communities to harness the transformative potential of artificial intelligence. He highlighted that AI could revolutionize service delivery by making it more accessible to remote farmers and by providing vital support to advisors working with smallholder communities.

AI has the potential to revolutionize RAS through predictive analytics, which can forecast agricultural trends and enable better decision-making. Machine learning models can analyze vast datasets to provide personalized advice to farmers, thus optimizing resource use and increasing crop yields. Additionally, AI-powered tools can facilitate remote monitoring and management of crops, livestock, and resources, ensuring timely interventions and reducing the dependence on physical visits.

The webinar featured a presentation by Francois Rossouw and Andre Strauss from the Southern African Agri Initiative (Saai), who shared their innovative solution that integrates AI with advisory services. Their approach assists extension officers and farmers by providing tailored advice, which is critical for advancing agricultural goals and nurturing prosperous rural communities.

Archana Karanam from Digital Green also contributed valuable insights, detailing their experience in integrating extension services with digital solutions. Their initiatives have focused on leveraging technology to disseminate knowledge and best practices among farmers, thereby enhancing the efficiency and reach of advisory services.

The session concluded with a vibrant discussion involving over 160 participants from around the globe, highlighting the international interest in the intersection of AI and RAS. The enthusiasm and diverse perspectives shared underscored the importance of continuing this dialogue.

GFRAS has made the presentations from Saai and Digital Green available for further exploration, enriching the resources for stakeholders interested in this critical area. 

Saai Presentation: 

Harvest the Future - AI Driven Agri Extension Services, Saai, 2024

Digital Green Presentation: 

15 years of success digitizing extension delivery, Digital Green, 2024

Looking forward, GFRAS aims to sustain the momentum around the discussion of AI and RAS. As this technology continues to evolve, it is imperative for the RAS community to stay attuned to the latest developments and ethical considerations. Ensuring the inclusivity of AI solutions, protecting data privacy, and maintaining the human element in advisory services are critical factors that must be addressed to fully realize the benefits of AI in agriculture.

The integration of AI in rural advisory services presents an exciting frontier with the potential to significantly impact global agricultural practices. As stakeholders continue to explore these possibilities, the lessons shared in webinars such as this one will be invaluable in guiding future efforts and ensuring sustainable, tech-driven growth in rural communities worldwide.

GFRAS Report: Digital Advisory Services - Global Lessons in Scaling Up Solutions

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GFRAS is glad to launch its report "Digital Advisory Services: Global Lessons in Scaling Up Solutions", supported and financed by GIZ and BMZ.

🌏 A Global Exploration of Digital Upscaling

Join us on a journey across Anglophone and Francophone Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia, where we draw lessons learned from these contexts on how the digitalization of rural advisory services is shaping the landscape of agriculture. Our report meticulously examines the current potentials and challenges inherent in the fusion of digital technologies and advisory services, unraveling how this dynamic synergy is contributing to the fortification of global food systems.

🌱 Guided by Principles for Digital Development

Built on the bedrock of the Principles for Digital Development, a comprehensive set of guidelines for integrating best practices into technology-enabled development programs, our report offers a profound insight into the intricate web of experiences drawn from diverse regions. Discover how these principles act as a compass, steering the course toward effective, ethical, and impactful digital interventions in rural advisory services.

Public and Private Sector: Unveiling Their Potential Roles

Delve into the report's exploration of the potential roles of both the public and private sectors in advancing digital advisory services. Uncover the dynamic interplay and synergies between these sectors and the innovative realm of public-private partnerships. Our findings shed light on how collaboration can be a catalyst for transformative change.

GFRAS: Trailblazing the Future of Advisory Services

As a trailblazer in the field, GFRAS stands at the forefront of capturing trends in advisory services. Our report is also evidence of GFRAS' commitment to pushing the boundaries and fostering a global dialogue on the transformative power of digitalization in rural advisory services.

Download the report here and share it with your networks!

Digital Advisory Services: Global Lessons in Scaling Up Solutions, GFRAS, 2023

NAAAN Report: Feeding North America Through Agricultural Extension

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Prior to 2020, North America was not a formal member of the global GFRAS network. GFRAS members and partner networks signaled a strong interest in having more opportunities to learn about agricultural advisory services in North America. Accordingly, the leadership of GFRAS suggested the formulation of a North American network to provide a more robust interface and link to extension services globally and share unique perspectives from Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Agricultural leaders in North America were also interested in developing such a network—interaction between the agricultural extension programs of North America, and between the North American agricultural extension programs and the rest of the world was needed. After consultation with all three countries, the North American Agricultural Advisory Network (NAAAN) was formed in 2020.

The NAAAN is the newest of the GFRAS regional networks. The NAAAN Secretariat is hosted by the Colorado State University System (CSUS) and is guided by the NAAAN Steering Committee which is constituted of agricultural leaders from each of the three North American countries. 

Here, you will find its latest report, outlining priorities and activities in the region, mapping its actors, and hopefully providing support to regions who also want to strengthen its extension activities.

The report can be downloaded here:

NAAAN Report: Feeding North America Through Agricultural Extension, NAAAN, 2022

 

Recent Trends in Contemporary Digital Rural Advisory Services

GFRAS Frontpage

Rural Advisory Services (RAS) are fundamental in supporting more than a billion small-scale farmers and other rural actors throughout the world (Nagarajan et al., 2020). These services assist them to deal with challenges and improve their livelihoods while increasing productivity and reducing hunger and poverty through innovation and strengthened capacities. Over the past ten years, digitalization in extension has received renewed worldwide interest, particularly with the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This has not only dramatically increased the availability and affordability of many online services, but it has escalated the urgency for the development and application of digital extension.

Digitalization is considered the avenue to reach the 500 million smallholders that deserve better livelihoods and improved resilience against the adverse consequences of climate change and other environmental threats. As a contribution to the global discussion around this theme, the Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services (GFRAS) seeks to determine what kind of agricultural extension will be needed in the future to overcome today’s challenges.

Download this document to read more about the various ways in which digitalization has been impacting agriculture and rural advisory services.

Recent Trends in Contemporary Digital Rural Advisory Services, GFRAS, 2023

GFRAS Impact Stories

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GFRAS is happy to launch its Impact Stories document! This document describes several real-life examples that illustrate some of the different ways in which the GFRAS network adds value to the work of local actors and ongoing initiatives, with the aim of benefiting the lives and livelihoods of smallholder farmers around the globe.

You can read all of these stories and download this document here!

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