Scaling Digital Agricultural Advisory Services in the Global South: What It Really Takes

The Grameen Foundation has implemented the Agripath project, a five-year applied research and implementation program aimed at supporting smallholders’ transition to sustainable agriculture in five countries across Asia and Africa (India, Nepal, Burkina Faso, Uganda and Tanzania). As part of this project, Altai Consulting was commissioned to develop the Agripath scaling framework, a strategy document outlining what is takes for DAS to scale in low- and middle-income countries.

The framework focused on three key objectives: (i) Understanding the role of community-based agents in scaling DAS; (ii) Identifying financially viable business models for DAS; (iii) Ensuring that scaling efforts improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers, particularly women.

This work was based on extensive research using mixed methodologies, including a desk review, 30 key informant interviews (with Agripath partners, governments, research institutions, development partners, DAS providers, and other agricultural private-sector stakeholders), and fieldwork in India.