1. Agricultural productivity varies dramatically aroundthe world. 2. While credit constraints - missing insurance markets - and poor infrastructure account for some of this disparity - suboptimal agricultural practices and poor management are also to blame. 3. New production technologies such as improved seed varieties - nutrient management - and pest control methods are not necessarily reaching farmers. 4. Public extension agents can overcome information barriers related to new agricultural practices andtechnologies - but such extension programs have been burdened by limited scale - sustainability - and impact 5. technology-enabled interventions are no panacea inthemselves - and need to be backed by complementary investments in physical infrastructure - including electricity and literacy.