One critical observation stands out in the evolving landscape of agricultural development especially from farmers’ engagements: farmers often understand their agricultural contexts better than anyone else. However, many development and research projects are implemented, with the assumption that the innovations conceptualized by scientists and high-level developers are inherently suitable and can be readily adopted by farmers. The reality is more complex, characterized by gaps between expectations and realities, often resulting in poor adoption and sustainability of innovations.
Le ICT4BXW Project exemplifies the importance of aligning project design with the contextual realities of farmers. Over six years (2018-2023), the project was implemented to deploy digital innovation for surveillance and control of Banana Xanthomonas Wilt (BXW) disease in Rwanda.
As a devastating banana disease, BXW has significantly impacted the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. While the project initially envisioned delivering smartphone-based digital tools to address the disease, engagement with farmers and the national extension system revealed the need for a more nuanced approach.
The ICT4BXW Project commenced by creating and disseminating digital tools to help farmers and extension workers combat BXW. However, early consultations highlighted significant barriers to adoption, including low internet connectivity in rural areas, limited digital literacy, and low smartphone ownership among farmers.
Recognizing these challenges, the project realigned and developed a suite of tools tailored to the farmers’ realities. These included USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data), a text-based system accessible on basic mobile phones; IVR (Interactive Voice Response), which provided audio messages in local languages to guide farmers; chatbots for those with limited digital literacy; and traditional communication channels such as radio programs, community meetings, and newsletters to reach broader audiences. This diversified approach ensured that regardless of their technological capabilities, farmers could access the tools they needed to protect their crops.
The ICT4BXW project team navigated the ups and downs of ideating, developing, testing, and scaling the co-envisioned digital tools and took additional steps to distill and publish the critical lessons learned that can guide future digital innovation initiatives in agriculture. Central to these lessons is the importance of valuing farmers’ input at every project stage. The solutions developed must address the specific challenges and constraints of the target community. Leveraging community leaders, such as Farmer Promoters, who are trusted opinion leaders, proved instrumental in disseminating tools and knowledge. Training these influencers ensured wider adoption within communities. Incentives also played a significant role in encouraging farmers to test and use digital tools. However, when the incentives ended, there was a noticeable decline in tool usage, underscoring the need for sustainable motivation strategies.
The project team underscored a critical point: “The Fourth Agricultural Revolution, characterized by digital and technological advancements, is reshaping global food systems.” African farmers must be part of this transformation to ensure sustainable food security. However, the engagement and empowerment of smallholder farmers are central to attaining the vision for transformation. Projects can achieve greater relevance, adoption, and impact by engaging farmers in the development process and designing solutions that reflect their realities.
While the ICT4BXW Project made significant strides in combating BXW, it also unraveled the challenges of sustaining digital innovation in smallholder agricultural systems. The gradual decline (without incentive) and subsequent resurgence (by reintroducing incentive) in using the core digital tool after the end of the project underscore the importance of consistent engagement and support. Future initiatives must explore ways to ensure long-term adoption by integrating digital tools into broader agricultural support systems.
Contributed by Ritha Bumwe
Read the full publication here: Farmers’ Digital Innovation Adoption in Rwanda for more insights.
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