Can ICT-enabled knowledge acquisition bridge the gap in enhancing the adoption of multipurpose agroforestry tree species (MPTS) in Malawi?

Abstract

Low adoption of agroforestry and other sustainable agriculture practices presents a pressing issue for both policy makers and practitioners in Sub-Saharan Africa. The inefficiency of extension advisory services partly contributes to low adoption of these practices in this region. Using survey data collected from Mzimba and Dedza districts in Malawi, this study applies an Ordered Probit model to assess the effect of ICT-enabled knowledge acquisition on the adoption of multipurpose tree species (MPTS). The results show that radio and WhatsApp messenger are key ICT-based platforms facilitating MPTS adoption. On the other hand, community-based farmer advisors (CBFAs) are an important form of face-to-face extension approach for promoting the adoption of MPTS. From a gender perspective, the results indicate that women farmers might be more inclined to adopt MPTS than their male counterparts, although this effect is not statistically significant. The findings highlight the importance of strengthening ICT-enabled extension advisory services to complement in-person extension services in an era when the number of extension agents is dwindling and the available extension officers are constrained to reach millions of farmers. Additionally, there is a need to scale digital extension services by developing appropriate content suitable for specific digital platforms and the type of agroforestry practices being promoted.