Bridging the Digital Divide through Agricultural Extension for Digital Inclusion
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21569380Keywords:
Agricultural extension, Digital Literacy, Rural Development, Digital AgricultureAbstract
Digital transformation is bringing new potential for agricultural development to the farmer's benefit by providing access to information, markets, weather forecasting, digital services and modern technologies. But digital inequalities in access to information, internet, digital skills and digital devices have resulted in a digital divide, especially for small and marginal farmers, women, old farmers, tribal people, and remote rural communities. Digital technologies can help address this gap, and agricultural extension services have the potential to make significant contributions to this, helping to bring farmers into the digital world and equipping them with the knowledge, training and support they need to become effective users of digital technologies. Translating agricultural information into local languages, providing mobile-based advice, using digital platforms, offering online training and community information centres will help make agricultural information more accessible and reachable. Traditional in-person extension is still valued for offering personal guidance and trust building. Digital technologies can be used in a hybrid way together with human interaction to ensure inclusive and farmer-centred digital transformation. To guarantee that no farmer is left behind in the digital age, enhancing capabilities and digital literacy, and building digital service through the extension system and rural connectivity are necessary. Digital inclusion in agricultural extension can play a role in the agricultural development that is more resilient, productive, sustainable and equitable.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Trisha Chakraborty, Subhashree Sahu, Pabitra Maity, Kommu Sunil Kumar, Annepu Divesh Babu
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