Turning challenges into opportunity: Potential for adoption of e-extension in Lesotho

Farmers in Lesotho mostly depend on rain-fed agriculture and are in need of access to agricultural information and knowledge in a timely, complete and quality manner. The traditional practice for delivering agricultural information has mainly relied on agricultural extension staff visiting farmers in order to provide advisory services. Due to the limited number of extension staff and other challenges, the delivery of agricultural extension services through the traditional farm and home visits has been ineffective. This paper presents challenges that the agricultural extension system in Lesotho faces, which necessitate the adoption of information and communication technologies (ICTs) as a basis for improving access of farmers to extension services. The advent of ICTs has given rise to e-extension, which is the delivery of extension services using web tools that allow online sharing, collaboration and networking. A recent study has revealed that agricultural extension professionals in Lesotho recognize the potential and use of e-extension in the country and are well positioned to embrace its introduction. The paper, therefore, recommends that efforts should be made to gradually introduce e-extension in the country, capitalizing on the existing enthusiasm among extension professionals and lessons of best practice from elsewhere.    Key words: Agricultural extension, e-extension, information and communication technology (ICT).