7 pages, Agricultural extension is the medium through which external agricultural technologies have been transferred to and transplanted in Africa to improve agricultural performance. Over a period of close to a century, different agricultural extension models have been proposed but their structure and content has virtually been the same: top-down, linear, non-participatory transfer of technology with no feedback loops for reverse diffusion. This presumably explains the poor performance of Africa’s agriculture and the scale of food security challenges facing the continent. In this review paper, we trace the history of agricultural extension and examine various agricultural extension delivery models to identify their major strengths and weaknesses, using Ghana and Burkina Faso as case studies. We then review the most recent literature in the field about the philosophy, scope, content, delivery, and outcomes of agricultural extension. The conclusion that agricultural extension has consistently remained out of sync with the needs and aspirations of stallholder farmers was reached. Smallholder farmers are now calling for new agricultural extension delivery models that are truly farmer-led, indigenous knowledge-based, context-specific, culturally-relevant and environmentally-sustainable to guarantee efficient farming systems into the future.
Evans, cited reference, A were conscious effort to develop appropriate research methodology in developing countries is advocated to provide alternatives to conventional social science methods. It is incumbent upon the people asking questions to use elicitation techniques which are appropriate to the cultural context and tailored to the abilities and requirements of the local community. In this way, interactions between interested parties can be structured so that the initiative and answering questions rests with local people. Field trials at Oluwatedo,, Oyo State, Nigeria, adapted Ayo board to elicit farmers perceptions of weeds and pest. Ayo is the Yoruba version of a popular African game, which has its roots in the aged Egyptian game of men cannot Ayo board format was used and conjunction with repertory grid methodology to focus discussion on farming problems. Numerous scenarios can be devised using the format to generate genuine dialogue between farmers and outside research workers.
Obeng-Quaidoo, Isaac (author / School of Communication Studies, University of Ghana, Legon) and School of Communication Studies, University of Ghana, Legon
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
1988
Published:
Netherlands
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 70 Document Number: C03047
15 pages., Online via Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ)., "In sum, the Africa rising myth and penetration of ICTs in rural areas masks the disposition of Maasai means of livelihood , and therefore worsening the groups' conditions of living.
"Theatre can reveal to development workers both villagers' problems and their capacity to analyse such programs." Also: "the main obstacle to development is not ignorance or apathy but structural limits on villagers' access to resources, information and power."
