Synopsis: Assessing agricultural extension agent digital readiness in Rwanda

The fourth Strategic Plan for Agriculture Transformation (PSTA IV) of the Government of Rwanda emphasizes extension and advisory services (EAS) as a priority area (MINAGRI 2018). In support of PSTA IV, the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) began enhancing extension and advisory...

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Autores principales: Davis, Kristin E., Rosenbach, Gracie, Spielman, David J., Makhija, Simrin, Mwangi, Lucy
Formato: Brief
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: International Food Policy Research Institute 2024
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/149000
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author Davis, Kristin E.
Rosenbach, Gracie
Spielman, David J.
Makhija, Simrin
Mwangi, Lucy
author_browse Davis, Kristin E.
Makhija, Simrin
Mwangi, Lucy
Rosenbach, Gracie
Spielman, David J.
author_facet Davis, Kristin E.
Rosenbach, Gracie
Spielman, David J.
Makhija, Simrin
Mwangi, Lucy
author_sort Davis, Kristin E.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description The fourth Strategic Plan for Agriculture Transformation (PSTA IV) of the Government of Rwanda emphasizes extension and advisory services (EAS) as a priority area (MINAGRI 2018). In support of PSTA IV, the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) began enhancing extension and advisory services by introducing a Customized Agriculture Extension System (CAES) (MINAGRI 2020). The CAES calls for ICT-supported extension services, stating that “ICT can revolutionize agriculture in Rwanda” (MINAGRI 2020: 34). Despite an enabling policy environment and Rwanda’s embracing of the ICT revolution, extension services have not taken advantage of the potential of ICTs (MINAGRI 2020). This paper looks at capacities of agricultural extension staff and the readiness of Rwandan public and private extension staff to use ICTs in their work—to be digitally equipped. A phone survey of 500 agricultural extension agents (EAs) was conducted in February and March 2021 across all districts of Rwanda among EAs in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors in Rwanda. We examine their demographics, education, and work backgrounds. To assess the ‘digital readiness’ of EAs, we assess the impacts of various factors on an EA’s digital experience and their attitudes toward digital modernization.
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spelling CGSpace1490002025-11-06T07:50:04Z Synopsis: Assessing agricultural extension agent digital readiness in Rwanda Davis, Kristin E. Rosenbach, Gracie Spielman, David J. Makhija, Simrin Mwangi, Lucy agricultural extension capacity development policy innovation gender The fourth Strategic Plan for Agriculture Transformation (PSTA IV) of the Government of Rwanda emphasizes extension and advisory services (EAS) as a priority area (MINAGRI 2018). In support of PSTA IV, the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) began enhancing extension and advisory services by introducing a Customized Agriculture Extension System (CAES) (MINAGRI 2020). The CAES calls for ICT-supported extension services, stating that “ICT can revolutionize agriculture in Rwanda” (MINAGRI 2020: 34). Despite an enabling policy environment and Rwanda’s embracing of the ICT revolution, extension services have not taken advantage of the potential of ICTs (MINAGRI 2020). This paper looks at capacities of agricultural extension staff and the readiness of Rwandan public and private extension staff to use ICTs in their work—to be digitally equipped. A phone survey of 500 agricultural extension agents (EAs) was conducted in February and March 2021 across all districts of Rwanda among EAs in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors in Rwanda. We examine their demographics, education, and work backgrounds. To assess the ‘digital readiness’ of EAs, we assess the impacts of various factors on an EA’s digital experience and their attitudes toward digital modernization. 2024-07-09 2024-07-09T17:57:11Z 2024-07-09T17:57:11Z Brief https://hdl.handle.net/10568/149000 en https://hdl.handle.net/10568/145325 Open Access application/pdf International Food Policy Research Institute Davis, Kristin; Rosenbach, Gracie; Spielman, David J.; Makhija, Simrin; and Mwangi, Lucy. 2024. Synopsis: Assessing agricultural extension agent digital readiness in Rwanda. Rwanda SSP Policy Note 13. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/149000
spellingShingle agricultural extension
capacity development
policy innovation
gender
Davis, Kristin E.
Rosenbach, Gracie
Spielman, David J.
Makhija, Simrin
Mwangi, Lucy
Synopsis: Assessing agricultural extension agent digital readiness in Rwanda
title Synopsis: Assessing agricultural extension agent digital readiness in Rwanda
title_full Synopsis: Assessing agricultural extension agent digital readiness in Rwanda
title_fullStr Synopsis: Assessing agricultural extension agent digital readiness in Rwanda
title_full_unstemmed Synopsis: Assessing agricultural extension agent digital readiness in Rwanda
title_short Synopsis: Assessing agricultural extension agent digital readiness in Rwanda
title_sort synopsis assessing agricultural extension agent digital readiness in rwanda
topic agricultural extension
capacity development
policy innovation
gender
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/149000
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