Extension Africa (EXAF) has taken a major step toward improving how rural farmers access and use farming information. 

Last week, EXAF held a validation session with industry experts, researchers, academic leaders, extension agents, and farmer representatives to review and improve digitised, harmonised training manuals developed by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA).

This work is part of a wider AGRA-backed initiative focused on giving smallholder farmers across Africa easy-to-understand, locally relevant information that can help them improve their productivity and income.

The manuals, which are being tested and refined with input from real users and experts, will be shared through multiple channels, including EXAF’s Africa Agribusiness Extension Academy, a call centre, and an AI-powered chatbot designed to answer farming questions in simple, everyday language.

According to EXAF, the session explored combining modern farming knowledge with indigenous agricultural practices, blending science with local experience. 

This approach, the organisation says, will make extension advice more trustworthy and effective for rural communities.

From an agricultural perspective, this project could be a game changer. One of the biggest challenges facing farmers, especially in rural areas, is getting clear, timely, and trustworthy advice that matches their local climate, soil conditions, and crops. 

Traditional extension services often lack the scale and resources to reach every community. But with these digitised manuals and tech-driven support systems, EXAF hopes to bridge the information gap between experts and those who work the land daily.

The long-term goal is to improve the quality, accuracy, and local relevance of agricultural knowledge, making sure that it’s available, understood, and used by farmers.

Farmers in many parts of Africa still rely on outdated methods or word-of-mouth advice. 

However, by using modern digital tools, EXAF is helping to transform agriculture into a new era in which rural farmers have the same access to information as large commercial growers.

The initiative also gives a platform to farm agents and local extension workers, whose roles are being redefined through better tools, training, and recognition as key players in Africa’s food security future.

EXAF thanked AGRA for its support and funding and appreciated all the experts and participants who contributed to the session.