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.
Ghana: Association for International Agricultural and Extension Education
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 132 Document Number: C19952
Notes:
Burton Swanson Collection, from "Proceedings seventh annual meeting of the assocation for international agricultural and extension education"Riverfront Holiday Inn, St. Louis, Missouri, March 28-30, 1991
Claar, John B. (author / Director, International Program for Agricultural Knowledge Systems (INTERPAKS))
Format:
Speech
Publication Date:
1984-01
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 151 Document Number: D10094
Notes:
16 pages., This speech is from a project file maintained by the Agricultural Communications Program, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign > "International" section > "Sierra Leone" file., Speech at the Second Conference regarding ACRE in Sierra Leone, January 11-14, 1984., Comprehensive thoughts from an emeritus state Extension director regarding "what the world has learned about knowledge transfer," with special emphasis on Extension services
Moss, Geoffrey (author / Moss Associates, Wellington, New Zealand)
Format:
Commentary
Publication Date:
2016-06-06
Published:
International
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 114 Document Number: D11023
Notes:
Via email from author's website. 3 pages., Author's five basic principles for stimulating agriculture in countries. "Each country is unique and must work things out for themselves, but there are basic principles to be considered and, if necessary, put in place." Three principles focus on farmer collaboration and training needs.
