Landini, Fernando (author), Bianqui, Vanina (author), Vargas, Gilda (author), Inés Mathot y Rebolé, María (author), Martinez, Manuela (author), and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Argentina National Council of Scientific and Technological Research, Argentina
University of La Cuenca del Plata, Argentina
University of Morón, Argentina
University of Buenos Aires, Argentina
Format:
Online journal article
Publication Date:
2017-10-07
Published:
Argentina: Science Direct
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 106 Document Number: D10934
12 pages, via online journal, Working with farmers' groups, associations and cooperatives constitutes a fundamental element of extension work with family farmers. Despite the fact that extension practitioners face many problems in this area of their work, there is currently a lack of academic literature that systematically addresses the topic and offers concrete guidelines for practice. Thus, this paper will aim to clarify the benefits of farmers' groups, associations and networks within the context of family farming, systematise problems faced by rural extensionists when working with farmers' groups and associations, provide conceptual tools for understanding group and associative processes, and construct a set of guidelines and recommendations for facing said problems. In order to achieve these aims, the authors conducted an extensive literature review and drew upon their personal experience on the topic.
Results suggest that some of the benefits of associative work are: better access to inputs, produce and credit markets, the facilitation of learning processes, the empowerment of family farmers as social actors, and a reduction of rural extension costs. Additionally, with respects to the problems faced by extensionists, the following can be highlighted: individualist attitudes and conflicts between farmers, scarce participation and commitment, problems with leaderships and with organisations' administrative management, and the lack of extensionists' training to address these processes, among others. With regards to the factors that increase trust and cooperation are: interpersonal communication and mutual knowledge, sharing problems, values and objectives, and the existence of shared rules for the functioning of the group that include sanctions for transgressors. In this context, the extensionists' role will be that of facilitating processes of construction of group relationships, creating rules for the groups' functioning and developing the group's capacities for self-management.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 144 Document Number: C22579
Notes:
From a meeting of the National Curriculum Revision Committee at UGC, Regional Centre, Lahore, Pakistan, November 14-16, 2000. 33 pages., Reports a finalized draft of a curriculum in agricultural extension education.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 132 Document Number: C20083
Notes:
23 pages; from "Extending Extension; beyond traditional boundaries, methods and ways of thinking", APEN 2003 Forum, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, November 26-28, 2003
Sylvia, Janet (author / University of Georgia) and Hurt, Todd (author / University of Georgia)
Format:
Presentation
Publication Date:
2008-04-30
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: C27714
Notes:
Presented at the National Extension Technology Conference in 2008, Raleigh, North Carolina. Information posted at http://netc08.ces.ncsu.edu., via online access, 25 slides, Abstract provided by presentors: The University of Georgia's Cooperative Extension has been using Live Classroom to deliver training sessions in an online environment. This has allowed CAES Extension personnel to overcome common training constraints such as: statewide audience, limited travel budgets, rising fuel costs, and time spent away from county offices and local clientele. During this session we will discuss the benefits of conducting Extension trainings online and the challenges of converting face-to-face sessions to an online format. We will also share:
1. the economic savings in terms of travel time, travel dollars and personnel hours gained, as well as
2. the environmental impact of reducing statewide travel.
18 pages, Assessing farmers’ satisfaction with the quality of agricultural-extension services is essential for developing extension programs that comply with farmers’ needs and agroecological conditions. This study aimed to determine factors influencing farmers’ satisfaction with extension services. Data were collected through a questionnaire from a random sample of 393 farmers in the Kafr El Sheikh governorate. Farmers assessed the quality of extension services by five main indicators: (1) availability, (2) accessibility, (3) diversity, (4) relevance, and (5) effectiveness. Descriptive statistics and a logistic-regression model were used to analyze the data. Results showed that farmers had lowly participated in the provided extension services. The accessibility of services was ranked first with regard to satisfaction, while diversity of services was the lowest-ranked quality attribute. Results also revealed that factors significantly influencing farmers’ satisfaction included farm size, diversity of farming activities, annual income, and participation in extension services. Results provide practical implications for policy makers to support smallholder farmers by providing high-quality extension programs.
Lindner, James R. (author) and Hynes, James W. (author)
Format:
Paper
Publication Date:
2006-05-14
Published:
International
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 152 Document Number: C24507
Notes:
Retrieved June 16, 2006, Conference, Association for International Agricultural and Extension Education, May 14-17, 2006, at Clearwater Beach, Florida. 10 pages.
