Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 182 Document Number: C36984
Notes:
5 pages., Describes process and outcomes of a four-day workshop in Bangladesh involving representatives of several organizations that have been actively involved in the farmer-led approach.
Melkote, Srinivas R. (author) and Kandath, Krishna P. (author)
Format:
Book chapter
Publication Date:
2001
Published:
International
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: D00545
Notes:
Pages 188-204 in Srinivas R. Melkote and Sandhya Rao (eds.). Critical issues in communication: looking inward for answers. Essays in honor of K.E. Eapen. Sage Publications, New Delhi, India. 491 pages.
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.
Campilan, Dindo (author), Roa, Julieta R. (author), and Gonsalves, Julian (author)
Format:
Book chapter
Publication Date:
2009
Published:
International
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: C29785
Notes:
Pages 97-101 in Ian Scoones and John Thompson (eds.), Farmer First revisited: innovation for agricultural research and development. Practical Action Publishing, Warwickshire, U.K. 357 pages., Describes a program, UPWARD (Users' Perspectives with Agricultural Research and Development ). Shifts emphasis from food systems to livelihood systems, from crop production to agricultural livelihoods and from farms to marketing chains.
6 pages., Via online., Author outlined six engagement principles that facilitate community-building efforts in organizations and identified future directions for both application and investigation of those principles.
