Agricultural Knowledge Systems (AKIS) Training

Course Overview

Modern agriculture faces complex and interrelated challenges. Climate change, soil degradation, and pest outbreaks sit alongside market volatility, policy shifts, and evolving consumer demands. Addressing these challenges requires a robust, well-connected system that supports continuous learning, innovation, and collaboration among everyone in the agricultural value chain. This is where Agricultural Knowledge and Information Systems (AKIS) come in.

AKIS is a conceptual and operational framework that brings together farmers, researchers, extension agents, agribusinesses, education institutions, policymakers, and ICT providers to create, share, and apply agricultural knowledge and technologies. A well-functioning AKIS speeds up the flow of information, strengthens innovation, and improves how responsive agricultural systems are to farmer needs and market dynamics.

This training gives you a deep understanding of how AKIS functions and equips you with tools to design, manage, and strengthen these systems in real-world contexts. You will explore the key components of AKIS, conduct stakeholder mapping and network analysis, assess knowledge flows and bottlenecks, and learn how to foster synergies among diverse actors. The training places strong emphasis on using digital tools, integrating participatory methods, and aligning AKIS with national agricultural innovation systems (AIS) and policy environments.

Through interactive sessions, case studies, and group exercises, you will develop strategies to improve coordination, responsiveness, and inclusivity within AKIS, contributing to more sustainable, resilient, and knowledge-driven agricultural development.

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Course Objectives

By the end of this training, you will be able to:

• Understand the structure, components, and functions of AKIS
• Analyse knowledge flows and identify gaps and opportunities in AKIS networks
• Promote coordination among research, extension, education, and farmer systems
• Apply digital and participatory tools to improve agricultural knowledge exchange
• Design institutional strategies to operationalise and strengthen AKIS
• Integrate AKIS principles into agricultural policy and innovation frameworks

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Who Should Attend

This training is designed for professionals who build, manage, or rely on agricultural knowledge networks.

• agricultural extension and advisory service providers
• researchers and agricultural innovation practitioners
• knowledge and information managers
• rural development and agri-project managers
• ict4ag specialists and content developers
• policy advisors and decision-makers in agriculture
• educators and curriculum developers in agriculture and rural development

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How the Training Works

This training combines expert instruction with practical diagnostic and design exercises drawn from real AKIS models.

• Interactive presentations and expert-led discussions
• Case studies of successful and challenged AKIS models
• Stakeholder mapping, knowledge flow, and system diagnostics exercises
• Hands-on sessions on ICT tools and digital knowledge platforms
• Group work to co-design AKIS frameworks and institutional strategies

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What You Will Walk Away With

You will leave this training with systems-thinking skills, practical tools, and a clear strategy for strengthening AKIS in your own context.

• Systems-thinking skills to manage and coordinate AKIS effectively
• Stronger institutional capacity for knowledge sharing and innovation
• Improved collaboration between research, extension, and education sectors
• The ability to use digital tools to improve knowledge access, delivery, and feedback
• A practical action plan to build or strengthen AKIS in your organisation or region

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does this training cover?

The training covers how Agricultural Knowledge and Information Systems function, including stakeholder mapping, knowledge flow analysis, and digital tools for agricultural advisory services. You will learn to design institutional strategies that strengthen coordination between farmers, researchers, extension agents, and policymakers.

Who should attend this training?

Agricultural extension officers, researchers, knowledge managers, and rural development practitioners all benefit from this training. It also suits ICT4Ag specialists, policy advisors, and educators who work on agricultural innovation and knowledge systems.

What is the difference between AKIS and AIS?

AKIS focuses specifically on how knowledge and information flow between farmers, researchers, extension services, and education systems. Agricultural Innovation Systems (AIS) take a broader view, covering the full range of actors and institutions that drive innovation in agriculture. The two frameworks overlap and reinforce each other.

How is the training delivered?

Sessions combine expert-led discussions with hands-on stakeholder mapping, knowledge flow diagnostics, and ICT tool demonstrations. Participants work in groups to co-design AKIS frameworks and institutional strategies, using real case studies of successful and challenged systems.

Why do digital tools matter for agricultural knowledge systems?

Digital tools such as mobile platforms, e-learning, and data-driven advisory services help knowledge reach farmers faster and more reliably than traditional channels alone. They also create feedback loops, allowing extension services and researchers to respond more quickly to farmer needs and field conditions.

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