FarmSmarter - feasibility study for extension supporting smallholder farmers in new developing territories.

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The FarmSmarter extension project aims to explore the potential of extending the geographic reach of the D4Ag (Digitalisation for Agriculture) 'FarmSmarter' app using Smart technologies including machine learning, artificial intelligence and data analysis.In developing countries generally, dynamics of culture, lack of access to finance and poor information dissemination preclude smallholder farmers from leveraging state-of-the-art sustainable farming practices.Initial development of the FarmSmarter app has been supported by Innovate UK and Overseas Development Assistance (ODA), with the goal of enabling smallholders in developing regions to access integrated, site specific sustainable farming information. The initial feasibility study in Nigeria, has addressed propagation advice, crop disease identification, productivity, and routes to market of smallholder farmers through creating a holistic, accessible digital resource of agri-data and sustainable farming suggestions.The natural progression for the FarmSmarter project development is to systematically explore new territories, focussing on those with a predominance of smallholder farmers.Through close liaison with local agroecological and market experts in each region the project will create a pathway to firm market development strategies, academic & research partnerships and an informed assessment of regional smallholders' needs and livelihood conditions addressing diverse climate, topographical and market conditions.As the effects of climate change spread, and the global population continues to grow and become urbanized, it is imperative that farmers in these regions, who are the mainstay of rural communities, become successful in the future.