2 pages., Via UI online subscription., Purpose: This paper examines extension practises of agricultural workers within the Egyptian government and the perceived barriers they face in implementing participatory approaches, identifying improvements required in research and extension processes to meet the real needs of Egyptian farming communities.
Design/Methodology/Approach: Key barriers for engaging in participatory extension were identified using content analysis of semi-structured interviews, surveys and focus group discussion of 37 government agricultural workers along with participant observation and review of existing literature.
Findings: The majority of workers surveyed understood basic participatory extension principles and desired to use these approaches. Changing from traditional ‘top down’ extension to systems that engage with farmers' needs at the community level is made difficult due to the aging and poorly functioning Village Extension Worker (VEW) network. Thus, it is far easier for the research driven extension programmes to use technology transfer models.
Practical Implications: Participatory extension relies on strong relationship building and open communication between farmers, extension workers, researchers, interest groups and policy-makers. The Egyptian government must properly establish and resource the pivotal role of VEWs within the extension system to meet its strategic aims of modernising agriculture, developing food security and improving the livelihoods of rural inhabitants.
Originality/Value: This paper captures the unique perspectives of government research, extension and education workers involved in agricultural development at a time directly after the 2010 revolution, when they were able to more openly reflect on the past and present situations.
Rajasekaran, B. (author) and Warren, D.M. (author)
Format:
Book chapter
Publication Date:
1995
Published:
India
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: C35843
Notes:
Pages 202-210 in D. Michael Warren, L. Jan Slikkerveer and David Brokensha (eds.), The cultural dimension of development: indigenous knowledge systems. Intermediate Technology Publications Ltd., London, England. 582 pages.
Suggests that market oriented arrangements (i.e., privatized extension and research, output-financing) are probably less suitable than other institutional arrangements when the aim is to support experiential learning and interactive design towards sustainable agriculture.
Murwira, Kudakwashe (author), Hagmann, Jurgen (author), and Chuma, Edward (author)
Format:
Book chapter
Publication Date:
2001
Published:
Zimbabwe
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: D01211
Notes:
Pages 300-309 in Waters-Bayer (eds.), Farmer innovation in Africa: a source of inspiration for agricultural development. Earthscan Publications, Ltd., London, England. 362 pages.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 138 Document Number: D05737
Notes:
"Blog Stories on Extension." Online via the website of AgroInsight, Ghent, Belgium. 2 pages., Example of negative results from a top-down approach to Extension teaching.
Online via the University of Illinois Online Catalog, using the Article search term, "demonstrations", This study involved determining preferences of researchers and producers regarding their preferences for providing and gathering information. Findings revealed and described differences in preference. Authors identified on-farm demonstrations as particularly important for technologies that involve major transitions in farming methods.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 39 Document Number: B04477
Notes:
Hal R. Taylor Collection (abstract), Madison, WI : University of Wisconsin, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Research Division, 1957. 51 p. (Research Bulletin 203)
Pages 79-80 in Extension Circular 532, Review of Extension Research, January through December 1959, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. Summary of research report, master of science in agricultural education, University of Minneapolis, St. Paul. 1959
