Mobile Apps in Agricultural Extension: A Case Study of Burkina Faso

Mobile applications (apps) have emerged as a novel tool in agricultural extension services worldwide, especially for smallholder farmers with limited access to traditional channels of information dissemination. A mixed-methods approach was employed, including surveys (N=250) and focus group discussions with farmers across different regions of Burkina Faso. Data analysis utilised descriptive statistics for quantitative data and thematic coding for qualitative insights. Mobile app users reported a significant increase in crop yields by an average of 15% compared to non-users, with usage frequency ranging from daily to weekly. Farmers appreciated the timeliness and relevance of agricultural information provided through apps. The findings suggest that mobile technology can be effectively leveraged for enhancing agricultural extension services in Burkina Faso, particularly for improving crop yields among smallholder farmers. Further research should investigate scalability and sustainability of these app-based services across various agroecological zones in Burkina Faso. Agricultural Extension, Mobile Apps, Burkina Faso, Crop Yields, User Satisfaction