Agricultural extension has traditionally been a one-way street: experts create knowledge, and the system delivers it to farmers. But this broadcast model is increasingly inadequate.
The Limits of Broadcast
One-way extension fails because: - It assumes farmers are passive recipients - It can't adapt to individual contexts - It provides information without ensuring understanding - It has no feedback loop for improvement
The Conversation Model
Modern extension is becoming conversational: - Farmers share their specific situations - Experts respond with contextualized advice - Farmers confirm understanding and intent - Follow-up happens based on what farmers actually did
Technology's Role
Technology enables conversation at scale: - Capture: Understanding farmer context through simple inputs - Personalize: Tailoring advice to specific situations - Confirm: Getting explicit farmer consent before moving forward - Track: Following through on what was agreed
The Human Element
Technology doesn't replace human expertise—it amplifies it. An expert who previously could advise 100 farmers can now meaningfully engage with thousands, because technology handles the routine while humans handle the complex.
This is the vision RootsTalk is building toward: agricultural extension that's as personal as a conversation, but as scalable as technology allows.