Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: Byrnes2 Document Number: C12381
Notes:
Francis C. Byrnes Collection, Pages 115-134 in Food and Agriculture Organization, Report of the global consultation on agricultural extension, FAO/United Nations, Rome, Italy. 217 p.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 119 Document Number: C13504
Notes:
7 p., APEN (Australasia Pacific Extension Network) 2001 International Conference, Oct3-5, 2001, at University of South queensland, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia
Charleston, Kate (author), McLennan, Austin (author), Bellati, Judy (author), Henry, Ken (author), Umina, Paul (author), Mangano, Peter (author), Brier, Hugh (author), and Severtson, Dustin (author)
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
2009
Published:
Australia
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 177 Document Number: C30625
This paper describes the rationale for a change from conventional extension towards participatory innovation development and extension. The "Conservation Tillage Project" and the "Food Security Project" developed such an approach and have embarked on institutionalisation of this approach into the agricultural extension service in Masvingo Province in Zimbabwe. Dialogue with farmers, farmer experimentation and the strengthening ofself-organisational capacities of rural communities are the major elements to improve development and spreading of innovations, thus the efficiency of extension. The new approach requires a role change of agricultural extension workers from teacher to facilitator as well as appropriate methods and tools. Elements of "Training for Transformation" and Participatory Rural Appraisal(PRA) were tested and developed and were found to be effective tools. The strategy to institutionalise participatory extension is based on joining efforts and networking with other organisations, a campaign to familiarise institutional staff and a training and follow-up programme for staff in the framework of organisational development. The experiences show that the attitudinal change required to implement participatory approaches is highly depended on personalities. To have an impact on the change of attitudes a continuous medium-term training process with a close follow-up is required. The paper concludes that institutionalisation of participatory approaches into hierarchically structured organisations is a highly complex intervention. In order to besuccessful, major changes in planning, implementation and monitoring and evaluation procedures are required. Changes of that nature require a process of at least 5 to 10 years and high commitment on the side of institutional staff on all levels and donors as well.
