"The analysis highlights the efficiency gains that can come from locally decentralized delivery systems with incentive structures based on largely private provision, although in most poorer countries extension services will remain publicly funded."
Hibbs, Amber Campbell (author), Kahl, Daniel (author), PytlikZillig, Lisa (author), Champion, Ben (author), Abdel-Monem, Tarik (author), Steffensmeier, Timothy (author), Rice, Charles W. (author), and Hubbard, Kenneth (author)
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
2014-06
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 140 Document Number: D06056
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: D02420
Notes:
Page 33 - Abstract of a paper presented at the International Conference of the Australasia Pacific Extension Network (APEN), Lincoln University, Christchurch, New Zealand, August 26-28, 2013. 100 pages.
16 pages., via online journal., To date, little is known about how information flows within farmer groups and how extension interventions could be designed to deliver combined information on agriculture and nutrition. This study uses unique network data from 815 farm households in Kenya to investigate the structure and characteristics of agricultural and nutrition information networks within farmer groups. Dyadic regressions are used to analyze the factors influencing link formation for the exchange of agricultural and nutrition information. In addition, we apply fixed‐effects models to identify the characteristics of central persons driving information exchange in the two networks, as well as potentially isolated persons, who are excluded from information networks within their farmer groups. Our results show that nutrition information is exchanged within farmer groups, although to a limited extent, and mostly flows through the existing agricultural information links. Thus, diffusing nutrition information through agricultural extension systems may be a viable approach. Our findings further suggest that group leaders and persons living in central locations are important drivers in the diffusion of information in both networks and may thus serve as suitable entry points for nutrition‐sensitive extension programs. However, we also identify important heterogeneities in network characteristics. In particular, nutrition information is less often exchanged between men and women, and some group members are completely isolated from nutrition information exchange within their farmer groups. We derive recommendations on taking these differences in network structure and characteristics into account when designing nutrition‐sensitive extension programs.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: C18408
Notes:
Pages 51-64 in Bruce R. Crouch and Shankariah Chamala (eds.), Extension education and rural development. Volume 2. John Wiley and Sons, Chichester. 325 pages.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 132 Document Number: C20062
Notes:
5 pages; from "Extending Extension; beyond traditional boundaries, methods and ways of thinking", APEN 2003 Forum, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, November 26-28, 2003
