The Potential of AI Extension Agents to Support Women Home Gardeners in Ghana: An HCI4D-Grounded Assessment

Abstract

Home gardening is a vital livelihood and food security strategy for low-income households in Ghana, with women serving as the primary managers of these spaces. However, gender disparities in extension services, limited digital access, and an overstretched public agricultural system restrict women’s ability to obtain timely agronomic advice. Artificial Intelligence–enabled advisory systems, or AI Extension Agents, offer new possibilities for providing personalized, real-time support at scale. Yet their deployment in low-resource settings raises key concerns related to digital equity, algorithmic fairness, cultural relevance, and user empowerment. This paper applies the Human–Computer Interaction for Development (HCI4D) framework to assess the potential, risks, and design requirements of AI advisory tools for Ghanaian women home gardeners. Through synthesis of empirical literature, gender-and-technology studies, and emerging AI-in-agriculture initiatives, the analysis highlights how AI Extension Agents can help close knowledge gaps and complement human extension systems. However, these benefits depend on participatory design processes that center women’s needs, support multiple literacy levels, integrate local agricultural knowledge, and incorporate strong human-in-the-loop validation. We propose a four-pillar, community-grounded AI extension ecosystem that aligns technological innovation with equity and social justice.

Keywords: AI in agriculture, women farmers, home gardening, HCI4D, digital inclusion, agricultural extension

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1007192