Reimagining Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services for Women Farmers

This chapter argues for the redesign of agricultural extension and advisory systems to recognise women as farmers, innovators, knowledge holders and agricultural decision-makers. It critiques conventional extension models that commonly target male household heads, focus on male-dominated crops and technologies, and overlook women’s time constraints, mobility limitations, literacy levels, enterprise priorities and care responsibilities. The chapter examines women’s roles in crop production, livestock care, seed systems, kitchen gardens, post-harvest management, nutrition, processing and local markets. It recommends that extension systems adopt gender-sensitive approaches through women extension personnel, community resource persons, women farmer groups, flexible training schedules, accessible training locations, local-language communication, visual learning materials and child-care support during meetings. The chapter also discusses the promise and limitations of digital extension, mobile advisories, farmer field schools, participatory demonstrations and peer learning. It stresses that extension should not measure success merely through attendance figures. More relevant indicators include adoption, reduction in drudgery, control over income, leadership, resource access and participation in farm decisions. The chapter concludes that gender-responsive advisory services can improve productivity, resilience, nutrition and equity when institutional systems actively address women’s differentiated constraints and aspirations.