Farmers in Africa do not receive knowledge about the modern technologies available and how to use them to improve and preserve their crop yields, in a timely, efficient and consistent way. Often governments lack enough extension agents and the resources to enable farm visits. The extension agent-to-farmer ratio on the continent commonly varies from 1:2,000 to 1:10,000.

The extension service providers role is to build capacities of farmers about the value of using improved seed, use of appropriate fertilizers, employing good agronomical practices and postharvest handling methods to increase their productivity and preserve their produce. But due to lack of these services, crop productivity of smallholder farmers in most countries in sub-Saharan Africa is very low.

AGRA is addressing this challenge through enhancing capacity for agricultural systems, and through identification and training of self-employed, village-based “agri-preneurs” or “advisors” (VBAs). A VBA is a kind of “lead farmer” who is selected by the Ministry of Agriculture extension agents together with farmers in his or her village. The VBA is trained by both public and private sector actors on a wide range of topics from input selection, planting to marketing of produce including the standards and quality required by the market.

Information and communication technology (ICT) applications are also employed to assist in training VBAs and help them convey key extension messages that are needed by farmers.