Interactive Digital Extension and Advisory Services (IDEAS) App for Smallholder Poultry Producers in Tropical Countries Overview and progress update in 2025 Mulugeta Y. Birhanu1, Simon Belete1, Ezekiel H. Goromela2, Deribe Gemiyo Talore3, Ochieng Ouko4, Wudu Temesgen1, Laurence Ochieng1, Menghak Phem5, Sothyra Tum5, Chhay Ty8, Hoa Hoang1¸ Ngo Thi Kim Cuc6, Ngo Thi Le Quyen6, Getnet Zeleke7, Wondmeneh Esatu1, Anuoluwapo Frank-Lawale1 1International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) 2Tanzania Livestock Research Institute (TALIRI). 3Central Ethiopia Agricultural Research Institute (CEARI) 4 Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) 5National Animal Health and Production Research Institute (NAHPRI) 6National Institute of Animal Science (NIAS) 7Amhara Agricultural Research Institute (ARARI) 8Livestock Development for Community Livelihood Organization (LDC), Cambodia ‹#› Key Topics ‹#› Background and context Finalize the main contents of the digital app Translating the digital contents into the proposed languages and collecting feedback What is next? Background and context Smallholder poultry production plays significant and multiple roles in the economies of developing countries. Its contribution to household livelihoods, such as income generation, food and nutritional security, job creation, and contribution to other agricultural activities, is documented in various studies (Birhanu et al. 2023; Wong et al. 2017). However, the sector faces multiple constraints, including limited access to inputs and services, as well as market linkages. Inadequate access to extension and advisory services is among the key challenges, as most countries focus on crop production and other livestock enterprises (Birhanu and Jensen 2023). ‹#› Background cont’d… Enhancing farmers' access to real-time extension and advisory services improves their information access and decision-making capability, contributing to higher production and productivity(Ogutu et al. 2014). There is an increasing trend in using ICT-based extension and advisory services both in the developed and developing world (Mukherjee et al. 2025). The TPGS team at ILRI has been developing interactive digital extension and advisory services since the SAPLING initiative (Mulugeta, 2024). ‹#› Finalize the main contents of the digital app ‹#› Chicken breeds Aim: To increase farmers' awareness and knowledge on the type of and productivity of different chicken breeds available in each country. Sub-topics Indigenous/local breeds Tropically adapted, improved dual-purpose breeds Commercial layers Commercial broilers Other sub-contents Feeding and watering Health Digital contents…. ‹#› 2. Chicken housing Aim: Introduce farmers and other stakeholders to the importance of chicken housing, possible housing systems, and house structure. Sub-topics Poultry Production Systems Poultry House Structure Poultry house equipment Brooding guards Drinker & feeder Nesting boxes Beeding materials Others Advantages disadvantages Key messages Digital contents…. ‹#› 3. Chickens feed and nutrition Aim: To build farmers' knowledge on the importance of feeding and nutrition and introduce the potential use of available resources. Sub-topics Sources and components of chicken feeds Energy, protein, vitamins, and minerals Commercial feeds Layer feeds Broiler feeds Homemade chicken feed formulation Water for Chickens Digital contents…. ‹#› 4. Chicken disease prevention and treatment Aim: Build farmers’ knowledge and skills in poultry disease prevention, identification, and treatment. Sub-topics General chicken health problems and sources Where do diseases come from? How to avoid chickens’ diseases? How to recognize a sick bird? What do you do when a chicken is sick? Major poultry diseases Advise on medication storage, expiry dates, and withdrawal periods Biosecurity Digital contents…. ‹#› Digital contents…. 5. Improving the productivity of local chicken flock Aim: To enhance farmers’ awareness of the importance of indigenous chickens and potential approaches to improve productivity. Sub-topics Selecting grower female chickens (pullets) Selecting Productive Hens Selecting breeding cocks Hatching and brooding management ‹#› 6. Marketing of poultry products Aim: Increase farmers' knowledge and awareness of good practices in poultry meat and eggs marketing. Sub-topics Developing a marketing strategy Eggs marketing Marketing of live chickens Buying live chickens Group marketing Digital contents…. ‹#› 7. Record keeping Aim: To increase farmers' awareness of the importance of record-keeping practices and introduce possible ways of record-keeping Sub-topics Advantages of record keeping Type of poultry farm records Digital contents…. ‹#› 8. Interactive advisory and support services Aim: To create a platform where farmers and other value chain actors ask real-time questions and get responses from others. It requires internet connection Message can be exchanged through Text Voice Video Picture A combination of all Digital contents…. ‹#› 8. Directory for institutions Aim: Increase farmers' access to poultry research and development institutions and facilitate access to additional information. Type of institutions Commercial poultry companies Poultry health Feed suppliers Poultry associations Key information Name of institutions P.O. Box Telephone Email Digital contents…. ‹#› Translating the digital contents into the proposed languages and collecting feedback ‹#› The digital content was translated into four major national languages of the target countries Amharic Kiswahili Khmer Vietnamese The translation was done digitally and then edited by national partners in each country. Languages of the digital content ‹#› Collect feedback from national partners The demo version of the digital app has been shared with partners in each country to receive comments. In Cambodia, researchers at NAHPRI and LDC have customized most of the content to the country's context. ‹#› What is next? ‹#› Finalize the digital App and validate it through a stakeholder workshop. Co-design a deployment strategy and implement it in selected villages. Evaluate outcomes and impacts, and optimize the app, if necessary. References Birhanu, M.Y., Osei-Amponsah, R., Yeboah Obese, F. and Dessie, T. 2023. Smallholder poultry production in the context of increasing global food prices: roles in poverty reduction and food security. Animal Frontiers, 13 (1), 17-25. 10.1093/af/vfac069. Wong, J.T., Bruyn, J.d., Bagnol, B., Grieve, H., M.Li, et al. 2017. Small-scale poultry and food security in resource-poor settings: A review. Global Food Security, 15, 43-52. Birhanu, M.Y. and Jensen, N. 2023. Dynamics of improved agricultural technologies adoption: The chicken and maize paradox in Ethiopia. Sustainable Futures, 5, 100112. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sftr.2023.100112. Mukherjee, S., Padaria, R.N., Burman, R.R., Velayudhan, P.K., Mahra, G.S., et al. 2025. Global trends in ICT-based extension and advisory services in agriculture: a bibliometric analysis. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, Volume 9 - 2025. 10.3389/fsufs.2025.1430336. Ogutu, S.O., Okello, J.J. and Otieno, D.J. 2014. Impact of Information and Communication Technology-Based Market Information Services on Smallholder Farm Input Use and Productivity: The Case of Kenya. World Development, 64, 311-321. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2014.06.011. Mulugeta Y,., Goromela, E.H., Gemiyo D., Ouko, O., Phem, M., Tum, S., Ty, C., Hoang, H., Cuc, N.T.K., Quyen, N.T.L., Zeleke, G., Bogale, A., Getachew, F. and Dessie, T. 2024. Interactive Digital Extension and Advisory Services (IDEAS) App for Smallholder Poultry Producers in Tropical Countries: Overview and progress update. Presented at Tropical Poultry Genetics Solution (TPGS), December 2024. ‹#› Acknowledgements This work was conducted as part of the CGIAR Sustainable Animal and Aquatic Foods (SAAF) Science Program. CGIAR research is supported by contributions to the CGIAR Trust Fund. CGIAR is a global research partnership for a food-secure future dedicated to transforming food, land, and water systems in a climate crisis. ‹#› image19.png image2.png image28.png image20.png image21.jpeg image22.png image23.png image24.png image25.png image26.png image27.png image29.png image30.png image31.png image32.png image33.png image34.jpeg image35.png image36.png image37.png image38.png image39.png image40.png image41.png image42.png image51.png image52.png image43.png image44.png image45.png image46.png image47.png image48.png image49.png image50.png image53.png image54.png image55.png image56.png image57.png image58.png image59.png image60.png image61.png image62.png image63.png image64.png image65.png image66.png image67.png image68.png image3.png image4.svg image69.png image70.png image71.svg .MsftOfcResponsive_Fill_17f1bd { fill:#17F1BD; } image72.png image73.svg .MsftOfcResponsive_Fill_17f1bd { fill:#17F1BD; } image74.png image75.svg .MsftOfcResponsive_Fill_17f1bd { fill:#17F1BD; } image1.png