Amudavi, David M. (author), Lawver, David E. (author), Udoto, M. (author), and Association for International Agricultural and Extension Education
Format:
Abstract
Publication Date:
2010-05
Published:
Kenya
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 185 Document Number: D00420
Notes:
Abstract of article in the proceedings of the 26th annual meeting of the Association for International Agricultural and Extension Education in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, May 16-19, 2010.
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.
International: Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation, ACP-EU, Wageningen, The Netherlands
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 153 Document Number: D11614
Notes:
3 pages., Online from publisher., Author addresses "large gap between African extension services ... and the number of farmers being reached." ... "Africa's existing mobile network (currently the second biggest mobile market in the world) could be better utilised to bridge this gap and provide mobile-based agricultural information, advice and support to smallholder farmers."
14 pages., via online journal,, Effective agricultural extension is key to improving productivity, increasing farmers’ access to information, and promoting more diverse sets of crops and improved methods of cultivation. In India, however, the coverage of agricultural extension workers and the relevance of extension advice is poor. We investigate whether a women's self‐help group (SHG) platform could be an effective way of improving access to information, women's empowerment in agriculture, agricultural practices, and production diversity. We use cross‐sectional data on close to 1,000 women from five states in India and employ nearest‐neighbor matching models to match SHG and non‐SHG women along a range of observed characteristics. We find that participation in an SHG increases women's access to information and their participation in some agricultural decisions, but has limited impact on agricultural practices or outcomes, possibly due to financial constraints, social norms, and women's domestic responsibilities. SHGs need to go beyond provision of information to changing the dynamics around women's participation in agriculture to effectively translate knowledge into practice.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: C21490
Notes:
Pages 194-198 in Peter F. Korsching and Judith Gildner (eds.), Interdependencies of agriculture and rural communities in the twenty-first century. Conference proceedings published by the North Central Regional Center for Rural Development, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa. 237 pages.
Castri, Francesco di (author), Damlamian, Jeanne (author), Hadley, Malcolm (author), and International Coordinating Council of the Programme on Man and the Biosphere; International Coordinating Council of the Programme on Man and the Biosphere; International Coordinating Council of the Programme on Man and the Biosphere
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
1983-09
Published:
International
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 78 Document Number: C04345
