The Opportunities and Barriers in Developing Interactive Digital Extension Services for Smallholder Farmers as a Pathway to Sustainable Agriculture: A Systematic Review

Le Thi Hoa Sen, Le Thi Hong Phuong (), Phanith Chou, Flordeliz B. Dacuyan, Ylva Nyberg and Johanna Wetterlind
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Le Thi Hoa Sen: Faculty of Rural Development, University of Agriculture and Forestry, Hue University, Hue 530000, Vietnam
Le Thi Hong Phuong: Faculty of Rural Development, University of Agriculture and Forestry, Hue University, Hue 530000, Vietnam
Phanith Chou: Faculty of Development Studies, Royal University of Phnom Penh, Phnom Penh 12404, Cambodia
Flordeliz B. Dacuyan: Division of Management, University of the Philippines Visayas Tacloban College, Tacloban City 6500, Philippines
Ylva Nyberg: Department of Crop Production Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Science, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden
Johanna Wetterlind: Department of Crop Production Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Science, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 7, 1-21

Abstract: Digital extension services (DESs) play a crucial role in transforming the agri-food sector while creating the potential to enhance production towards sustainable development via ensuring resource efficiency, environmental resilience, and economic viability for smallholder farmers. However, there is less research on the availability and quality of digital advisory information to provide the foundation for the ways forward to ensure accessible and timely benefits of science-based extension and innovation for smallholder farmers. This study used a systematic review method to explore the opportunities and barriers to develop interactive DESs in developing countries (2005–2021). Features of 141 articles were summarized resulting in the identification of 13 opportunities and 21 barriers. Opportunities indicate that interactive DESs were the best source for learning and the exchange of information/ideas/experiences, useful for enhancing agricultural productivity and profitability, creating network collaboration among farmers and stakeholders, and making extension service delivery cost-effective. Barriers of interactive DESs include a lack of a two-way interaction information, lack of a centralized information network between farmers and service providers, lack of technical know-how on ICTs, poor internet connection, and lack of effective training on ICTs. However, farmers’ awareness, motivation, and readiness to use interactive DESs has increased in several countries. It is therefore a great opportunity to invest in digital platforms as a long-term intervention to boost sustainable agricultural sustainability.

Keywords: digitalization; opportunities; barriers; review; smallholder farmers; sustainable agriculture (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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