A six-week mobile phone training programme in southern Mali increased farmers’ knowledge, confidence and uptake of agroecological practices, providing experimental evidence on how low-threshold digital advisory services can support agricultural extension. Conducted in the Sikasso and Kadiolo districts, the intervention delivered seven interactive voice recording (IVR) lessons in Bambara on agroecological principles, legume rotations and intercropping, mulching, composting, multipurpose shrubs, pest management and post-harvest practices. The content was adapted to the Sahelian context with support from the Malian producer organization AOPP. Because IVR requires neither internet access nor literacy, it can reach farmers in areas where conventional extension services face resource, connectivity and security constraints.

Using a cluster randomized controlled trial covering 80 villages and 451 farm households, the researchers assessed changes from awareness to actual adoption. Farmers assigned to the training showed a 16 percent increase in awareness, 42 percent increase in information sharing and 97 percent increase in confidence relative to control-group levels. Actual adoption increased by 23 percent, equivalent to an average of 0.53 additional practices, with notable effects for mulching and integrated pest management. The authors nevertheless note that adoption also depends on factors such as labour, technical knowledge and access to planting materials. The findings support further investigation of IVR and blended extension approaches, including their longer-term economic, social and environmental effects.