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12. Factors affecting performance of agricultural extension: evidence from Democratic Republic of Congo
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Ragasa, Catherina (author), Ulimwengo, John (author), Randriamamonjy, Josee (author), Badibanga, Thaddee (author), and International Food Policy Research Institution Washington, DC office Western and Central Africa Regional Office
- Format:
- Online journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2016-04
- Published:
- Netherlands: Taylor and Francis
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 108 Document Number: D10953
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension
- Journal Title Details:
- 22(2) : 113-143
- Notes:
- 32 pages, via online journal article, Purpose: As part of the institutional reforms and agricultural restructuring in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), this paper provides an assessment of the performance of the agricultural extension system as well as factors explaining it. Method: This paper involves key informants’ interviews and surveys of 107 extension organizations and 162 extension agents in randomly selected 156 villages, analyzed using qualitative and logistic regression methods. Findings and Practical Implications: Results show that despite having one of the highest extension agent-to-farmer ratio and a pluralistic extension system, DRC fails to deliver knowledge and technologies to rural areas due to lack of coordination, no unified and clear policy and mandate, lack of funding, aging and low competencies of agents, and lack of mobility and interactions of agents with key actors. This paper complements findings by other studies that number of agents is not a sufficient indication of performance, but an effective system needs to focus on the enabling environment for agents to be motivated to work as mandated. In this paper, enabling conditions that are found to be statistically significant are external funding, enforcement of performance targets, systems of rewards and sanctions, mobility to foster linkages, and skills development. Originality: This paper contributes by: (1) analyzing a cross-section of various organizations and agents to identify factors that explain variations in performance in a statistical and systematic approach; (2) providing insights on how to prioritize investments and options for a fragile state like DRC, with weak infrastructure and institutional capacity and with a long history of neglect for their national extension system; and (3) illustrating how a rich and well-cited conceptual framework can be implemented empirically to provide policy options for a country like DRC.
13. Factors influencing access to integrated soil fertility management information and knowledge and its uptake among smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Gwandu, T. (author), Mtambanengwe, F. (author), Mapfumo, P. (author), Mashavave, T.C. (author), Chikowo, R. (author), and Nezomba, H. (author)
- Format:
- Journal article abstract
- Publication Date:
- 2014
- Published:
- Zimbabwe
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 138 Document Number: D05675
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension
- Journal Title Details:
- 20(1) : 79-93
- Notes:
- Highlights effectiveness of extension agents, learning centers and farmer-to-farmer interactions.
14. Forging new partnerships: lessons from the dissemination of agricultural training videos in Benin
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Okry, Florent (author), Van Mele, Paul (author), and Houinsou, Felix (author)
- Format:
- Journal article abstract
- Publication Date:
- 2014
- Published:
- Benin
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 138 Document Number: D05673
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension
- Journal Title Details:
- 20(1) : 27-47
- Notes:
- Report on application of farmer-to-farmer videos.
15. It’s solely for the “green cert”': understanding young peoples’ motivation for engaging in agricultural education
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Flannery, Sinéad (author), Keaveney, Karen (author), and Murphy, Frank (author)
- Format:
- Journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2022-10-31
- Published:
- UK: Taylor and Francis
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 205 Document Number: D12714
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension
- Notes:
- 20 pages, To explore young peoples’ motivation for engaging in agricultural education. Autonomous and controlled forms of extrinsic and intrinsic regulation are discussed regarding young peoples’ decision to pursue an agricultural education.
16. Networked learning for agricultural extension: a framework for analysis and two cases
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Bennett, M. John (author) and Starasts, Anna (author)
- Format:
- Online journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2017-05-24
- Published:
- Australia: Taylor & Francis
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 151 Document Number: D10131
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension
- Journal Title Details:
- 23(7) : 399-414
- Notes:
- 17 pages., Via online journal., Purpose: This paper presents economic and pedagogical motivations for adopting information and communications technology (ICT)-mediated learning networks in agricultural education and extension. It proposes a framework for networked learning in agricultural extension and contributes a theoretical and case-based rationale for adopting the networked learning paradigm. Design/methodology/approach: A review of the literature highlights the economic and pedagogical need for adopting a networked learning approach. Two examples are described to instantiate the language for learning networks: a small community of farmers in India and large Twitter community of Australian farmers. Findings: This paper reviews evidence that successful networked learning interventions are already occurring within agricultural extension. It provides a framework for describing these interventions and for helping future designers of learning networks in agricultural extension. Practical implication: Facilitation of learning networks can serve to achieve efficient agricultural extension that connects farmers across distances for constructivist learning. To realize these benefits, designers of learning networks need to consider set design, social design and epistemic design. Theoretical implication: This paper contributes a theoretical framework for designing, implementing and analysing learning networks in agriculture. It does this by integrating existing ideas from networked learning and applying them to the agricultural context through examples. Originality/value: This paper contributes an understanding of the value of networked learning for extension in terms of economic and pedagogical benefits. It provides a language for talking about learning networks that is useful for future researchers and for practitioners.
17. On-farm demonstration: enabling peer-to-peer learning
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Sutherland, Lee-Ann (author) and Marchand, Fleur (author)
- Format:
- Journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2021-10-04
- Published:
- UK: Taylor & Francis
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 205 Document Number: D12644
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension
- Journal Title Details:
- V. 27, N.5
- Notes:
- 19 pages, This special issue presents recent European Commission-funded research into on-farm demonstration, undertaken through the Horizon 2020 PLAID (Peer-to-peer learning: Accessing innovation through demonstration), AgriDemo-F2F (building an interactive agridemo-hub community: enhancing peer-to-peer learning), and NEFERTITI (Networking European Farms to Enhance Cross Fertilisation and Innovation Uptake through Demonstration) projects, jointly branded ‘FarmDemo’.
18. Social integration mechanisms to strengthen absorptive capacity in agricultural advisory service organisations
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Stræte, Egil Petter (author), Hansen, Bjørn Gunnar (author), Ystad, Eystein (author), and Kvam, Gunn-Turid (author)
- Format:
- Online journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2022-09-03
- Published:
- UK: Taylor and Francis Ltd.
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 205 Document Number: D12640
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension
- Journal Title Details:
- Online
- Notes:
- 22pgs, To explore the structures and processes within agricultural advisory organisations that may enhance absorptive capacity (AC) and determine how organisations develop their AC.
19. The effect of communication media on the uptake of agricultural innovations in selected states of Nigeria
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Atser, Godwin Liambunde (author), Dixon, Alfred (author), Ekeleme, Friday (author), Hauser, Stefan (author), Fadairo, Olushola (author), Adekoya, Adegbenga (author), Ayanwale, Adeolu Babatunde (author), Agada, Mary (author), Oladokun, Ibukunoluwa (author), Akpu, Patrick (author), Sanni, Lateef (author), Pypers, Pieter (author), Ampadu-Boakye, Theresa (author), and Van Lauwe, Bernard (author)
- Format:
- Journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2022-09-21
- Published:
- UK: Taylor and Francis
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 205 Document Number: D12648
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension
- Notes:
- 23 pages, Poor uptake of agricultural innovations on weed management practices is a major factor responsible for low productivity. This paper examines how communication media can help improve farmers’ adoption behaviour.
20. The evolution of the MasAgro hubs: responsiveness and serendipity as drivers of agricultural innovation in a dynamic and heterogeneous context
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Camacho-Villa, Tania Carolina (author), Almekinders, Conny (author), Hellin, Jon (author), Martinez-Cruz, Tania Eulalia (author), Rendon-Medel, Roberto (author), and International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, Mexico, D.F. Wageningen University, The Netherlands Universidad Autónoma Chapingo, Mexico Universidad Autónoma de Chiapas University of Bonn, Germany
- Format:
- Online journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2016-10-17
- Published:
- Mexico: Taylor & Francis
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 108 Document Number: D10955
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension
- Journal Title Details:
- 22(5) : 455-470
- Notes:
- 17 pages, via online journal, Purpose: Little is known about effective ways to operationalize agricultural innovation processes. We use the MasAgro program in Mexico (which aims to increase maize and wheat productivity, profitability and sustainability), and the experiences of middle level ‘hub managers’, to understand how innovation processes occur in heterogeneous and changing contexts. Design/methodology/approach: We use a comparative case study analysis involving research tools such as documentary review, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and reflection workshops with key actors. Findings: Our research shows how a program, that initially had a relatively narrow technology focus, evolved towards an innovation system approach. The adaptive management of such a process was in response to context-specific challenges and opportunities. In the heterogeneous context of Mexico this results in diverse ways of operationalization at the hub level, leading to different collaborating partners and technology portfolios. Practical implications: MasAgro experiences merit analysis in the light of national public efforts to transform agricultural advisory services and accommodate pluralistic agricultural extension approaches in Latin America. Such efforts need long-term coherent macro level visions, frameworks and support, while the serendipitous nature of the process requires meso-level implementers to respond and adapt to and move the innovation process forward. Originality/value: This paper contributes to the debate on how to operationalize large programs by showing that the innovation support arrangements enacted in the field should allow for diversity and have a degree of flexibility to accommodate heterogeneous demands from farmers in different contexts as well as continuous changes in the politico- institutional environment.
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