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2. An overview of agricultural extension in Ghana and Burkina Faso and implications for sustainable agriculture in West Africa
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Santuah, Niagia (author), Abazaami, Joseph (author), Kaunza-nu-dem Millar, Katharine (author), and Amikuzuno, Joseph (author)
- Format:
- Journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2022-07-31
- Published:
- Nigeria: Academic Journals
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 205 Document Number: D12740
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development
- Journal Title Details:
- Vol. 14, N.3
- Notes:
- 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.
3. Assessment of extension services on capacity building of smallholder livestock farmers in Midvaal local municipality, Gauteng province
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Manyakanyaka, B. (author), Modirwa, S. (author), Tshwene, C. (author), and Maoba, S. (author)
- Format:
- Journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2022-11-02
- Published:
- South Africa: South African Society for Agricultural Extension
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 205 Document Number: D12722
- Journal Title:
- South African Journal of Agricultural Extension
- Journal Title Details:
- Vol 50, N. 2
- Notes:
- 15 pages, The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of extension services on capacity building of smallholder livestock farmers in Midvaal Local Municipality, Gauteng Province, South Africa. A simple random sample technique was used to select the participants, so that individual farmers in the study population could have an equal chance of being selected in the study. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 148 smallholder livestock farmers. The data gathered from participants was coded and captured in Microsoft Excel. Descriptive statistics such as frequency counts, mean, percentages, standard deviation, ranking order, and inferential statistics such as binary logistic regression were used to analyse the data. Results showed that technical farm visits (M = 3.3, SD = ±1.36) and informal training (M = 3.2, SD = ±1.31) were effective extension methods. Furthermore, they showed that extension services were less effective at enabling farmers to penetrate formal markets (M = 2,0 SD = ±1.06) and access finance (M = 1.9, SD = ±1.01). The binary logistic regression model revealed that gender and farming status were the main variables that significantly (P<0.05) influenced smallholder livestock farmers’ access to extension services. It was concluded that extension services in the study area were playing a major role in the capacity building of smallholder livestock farmers.
4. Building Bridges: improving extension support to organic growers in North Georgia
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Marabesi, Amanda Olbrick (author), Kelsey, Kathleen D. (author), Anderson, James C. (author), and Fuhrman, Nicholas E. (author)
- Format:
- Journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2021-02-18
- Published:
- USA: School of Human Sciences at Mississippi State University
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 205 Document Number: D12728
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Human Sciences and Extension
- Journal Title Details:
- Vol. 9, N. 1
- Notes:
- 20 pages, Organic agriculture has the potential to improve the environmental performance of U.S. agriculture, supporting increasing food demand and diversification of food consumption while improving the quality of ecosystems. Organic growers are challenged by a lack of Cooperative Extension agent support as agents have not served organic growers to the same extent as conventional growers nationwide. Rogers’ (2003) diffusion of innovations theory guided our phenomenological inquiry to explore (a) what agents experienced while supporting organic growers, and (b) how agents experienced providing support to organic growers in north Georgia. According to participants, the essence of the support offered to organic growers was an uneven bridge. Agents were willing to provide growers with the resources to support organic production; however, they lacked theoretical and empirical knowledge regarding organic agricultural production that would enable them to establish stronger relationships with growers. Findings from the study and the uneven bridge metaphor led to an original model to assist Extension agents in better serving the organic agricultural community.
5. Closing the extension gap: information and communication technology in sustainable agriculture
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Lubell, Mark (author) and McRoberts, Neil (author)
- Format:
- Journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2018
- Published:
- USA
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 131 Document Number: D11331
- Journal Title:
- California Agriculture
- Journal Title Details:
- 72(4) : 236-242
- Notes:
- Online from https://doaj.org, Authors examined extension professionals, county agricultural commissioners, and members of farm bureaus and producer groups regarding their behavior and attitudes about use of information and communication technologies (ITCs). Results indicated that extension professionals experienced challenges in using ICTs more than the other sustainable agriculture stakeholders, "creating a technology gap between extension professionals and their clientele." Authors suggested use of an ICT community of practice and clear organizational guidelines for measuring and reporting performance related to ICT.
6. Facilitated learning in soil fertility management: assessing potentials of low-external-input technologies in east African farming systems
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- De Jager, A. (author), Onduru, D. (author), and Walaga, C. (author)
- Format:
- Journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2004-02
- Published:
- Africa: Elsevier
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 161 Document Number: D07807
- Journal Title:
- Agricultural Systems
- Journal Title Details:
- 79 (2): 205-223
7. Factors affecting the selection of information sources of sustainable agricultural practices by Malaysian vegetable farmers
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Tey, Yeong Sheng (author), Brindal, Mark (author), Li, Elton (author), Gill, Gurjeet (author), Bruwer, Johan (author), Abdullah, Amin Mahir (author), Radam, Alias (author), Ismail, Mohd Mansor (author), and Darham, Suryani (author)
- Format:
- Online journal article
- Publication Date:
- unknown
- Published:
- Taylor & Francis
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 18 Document Number: D10491
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Agricultural & Food Information
- Journal Title Details:
- 19(2) 162-175
- Notes:
- 15 pages., via online journal., Information is key in reducing the uncertainties of sustainable agricultural practices (SAPs). The objective of this study was to improve the understanding of the relationship between utilized informational sources and other key identified factors affecting Malaysian vegetable producers' choices. The findings of a multivariate probit model suggest that information sources are complementary. The choices for these sources are influenced by heterogeneity in access to credit, social network (member of farmers association), and farm settings (distance from farm to market, resource depletion issues, and geographical regions). Future promotion of SAPs should be delivered through the provision of quality content disseminated through the preferred information sources, which target potential users.
8. Farmers' perception of sustainability for crop production on the north China plain
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Wei, Y.P. (author), White, R.E. (author), Chen, D. (author), Davidson, B.A. (author), and Zhang, J.B. (author)
- Format:
- Journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2007
- Published:
- China
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 149 Document Number: D06727
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Sustainable Agriculture
- Journal Title Details:
- 30(3) :129-147
9. Food security - What role for Extension?
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Blum, Magdalena (author)
- Format:
- Presentation
- Publication Date:
- 2013
- Published:
- International: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, Rome, Italy.
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 146 Document Number: D11569
- Notes:
- 22 pages., Presentation at the annual conference of the South African Society for Agricultural Extension (SASAE), June 3-7, 2013, in Bloemfontein, South Africa. 22 pages., Presenter concluded that new innovative capacities are needed at all levels of capacity development. Recommendations included continuous adaptation to change, linking stakeholders in the innovation system, and considering farmers' own innovative processes.
10. Good farm practices and improved processing technology of enset for sustainable hunger solution in Ethiopia
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Kudama, G. (author), Tolera, T. (author), and Gebeyehu, L. (author)
- Format:
- Journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2022-02-01
- Published:
- International: Springer Link
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 205 Document Number: D12574
- Journal Title:
- Innovation and Entrepeneurship
- Journal Title Details:
- 11
- Notes:
- 20 pages., Given the multi-benefits, enset cultivation has been continuously underutilized in Ethiopia. We assess best practices, processing technologies, environmental maintenance, multi-benefits of enset and its potency in hunger reduction in Ethiopia by reviewing evidence on good farm practices, improved technologies, sustainability, hunger reduction, inputs cost, and yields advantage of enset. The review results identify those best practices that optimize enset yield, technologies that facilitate extension services, processing and food qualities of enset. Moreover, we find that enset is a first-rated climate-smart crop, superior hunger solution because of its apparent capability to endure long periods (more than 5 years) of drought, highest yield, energy food supply, and costs advantages. In contrast, its long-period maturity, cultural perceptions, and little development policy attention given to enset limit its expansion. Therefore, exploring and creating universal access mechanism of early maturing and high-yielding varieties, processing technologies and mobile-based advices, involving best practices of enset in regular agricultural extension services, changing social perceptions optimize enset yield and production thereby it contributes environmental sustainability and cuts hunger challenges.