Mapping the climate and agronomic digital advisory services landscape in West and Central Africa: A step towards making food systems productive and climate resilient

PLOS One | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0338010 December 3, 2025 12 / 20 Farmers were the primary beneficiaries of agricultural digital technologies, with diverse needs such as tailored agro- advisory services, real-time climate information, better access to insurance, financial services, market opportunities, inputs, mechanization, and post-harvest storage. Fig 6 presents the diverse range of hub types and their varying prom- inence across different countries. The top four hub typologies in terms of registered users—agro-advisory services, bundled services, input and technology providers, and commercialization—highlight a focus on agricultural development. These services provide integrated solutions, technological advancement, and improved market accessibility across countries, driving economic growth and sustainability. While Rwanda stands out as having more users for agro-advisory services, Ivory coast followed by Burundi and Nigeria excels in bundled services. Although input and technology provider have a relatively smaller user base, these services were prominent in Nigeria followed by Rwanda. Financial services were provided mainly in Ivory coast, Ghana and Nigeria. The review showed a high level of awareness and adoption of digital technologies among farmers, except in Ghana and DRC. In total, Rwanda had the highest number of registered users benefiting from these services, followed by Nigeria and Ivory coast (S8 Fig). However, farmers faced challenges in using the tools effectively due to limited capacity. They

encounter barriers such as limited technology ownership, low payment ability, low literacy, and lack of support services. 3.2.3. Existing tools and challenges in complementing dags. Extension and Research Services: Across the six study countries, several tools and initiatives have been developed to strengthen agricultural value chains and improve access to DAGs. Public extension and research systems remain central, though they vary in structure. Nigeria has the Training and Visiting scheme [15], while Rwanda operates Twigire Muhinzi [16], a decentralized model combining Farmer Field Schools and Farmer Field Promoters. Nigeria also hosts the IITA and the largest agricultural research system in Sub-Saharan Africa. These systems have expanded farmer outreach but face severe capacity constraints: the extension worker-to-farmer ratio is 1:7,500 in Nigeria and 1:1,500 in Ghana, far above FAO’s 1:500 recommendation [17]. Women remain underrepresented among extension agents (5–28% of total extension personnel), limiting technology dissemination in settings where sociocultural norms constrain interactions between men and women [18,19]. Declining Fig 6. Number of users registered in different hub typologies. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0338010.g006