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Gender-responsive digital extension and advisory services in Bangladesh and India

Year of publication 2025

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 78 p.

Author Mittal, N.; Sulaiman, V.R.; Alsahi, H.;

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Book (stand-alone)

ISBN 978-92-5-140239-9

To cite or share https://doi.org/10.4060/cd7415en

Synopsis (short abstract) Digital technologies are rapidly transforming how agricultural knowledge and services are delivered, offering promising avenues to bridge gaps in access to information, markets, and decision-making for rural populations. In South Asia, particularly in Bangladesh and India, digital extension and advisory services (EAS) are increasingly being adopted to support smallholder farmers. However, these innovations often fail to adequately account for gender-based disparities in access, use, and benefit. This risks the further exclusion of women from agrifood system opportunities.Despite their central role in agriculture, rural women in both countries continue to face systemic challenges, including limited land ownership, low digital literacy, mobility restrictions, and social norms that hinder their participation in extension services. The gender digital divide, which is further widened by lower mobile phone ownership and internet use among women, remains a major barrier to realizing the full potential of digital EAS in supporting equitable and inclusive agricultural development.This study examines the gender responsiveness of digital extension and advisory services in Bangladesh and India. It draws on literature reviews, stakeholder surveys, and field research with women farmers and service providers. By applying a conceptual framework that evaluates five dimensions (access, relevance, needs assessment, intentionality, and learning mechanisms), the study analyzes both enabling environments and practical interventions that shape women’s digital engagement in agriculture.

Last updated 12/11/2025

Cite this content as:

Mittal, N., Sulaiman, V.R., Alsahi, H. 2025. Gender-responsive digital extension and advisory services in Bangladesh and India. Rome, FAO. 

https://doi.org/10.4060/cd7415en

Language English

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