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.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 201 Document Number: D11769
Notes:
Online from BroadbandNow, a registered trademark of Centerfield BBN LLC. 3 pages., Whereas the FCC reports that broadband is unavailable to 21.3 million Americans, BroadbandNow Research analyzed FCC Form 477 data and estimated that 42 million Americans do not have the ability to purchase broadband internet. This is an additional 6.5 percent of Americans beyond FCC estimates.
Laflin, Michael (author / Editor, Reading Rural Development Communications (RRDC) Bulletin) and Editor, Reading Rural Development Communications (RRDC) Bulletin
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
1982-03
Published:
International
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 79 Document Number: C04489
Authors identify urgent need to address the concerns of rural consumers and involve the available constitutional mechanism of Panchayati Raj institutions.
Buse, Rueben C. (author), Driscoll, James L., eds. (author), and Buse: Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI; Driscoll: Research and Development, Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, USDA, Kansas City, MO
Format:
Book
Publication Date:
1992
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 90 Document Number: C06498
Notes:
Contains Table of Contents only; See C06499-C06505 for individual chapters; James F. Evans Collection, Ames, IA: Iowa State University Press. 1992. 458 p.
Mitrovic, Zoran (author), Taylor, Wallace (author), Bytheway, Andy (author), and Centre for Community Networking Research, Monash University, Victoria, Australia.
Format:
Paper
Publication Date:
2007-11-05
Published:
South Africa
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 178 Document Number: C35683
Notes:
Community Informatics Research Network (CIRN) Conference 2007, Prato, Italy, November 5-7, 2007. 10 pages., Identifies gap between support services provided by ICTs and acceptance and use of those services by businesses.
