This summary is based on the blog story by Suresh Babu originally written for FARMD (Forum for Agricultural Risk Management in Development).
Suresh Babu is Leader for the PIM Cluster on ‘Capacity strengthening’ (Cluster 8.3), and represents PIM in the Consortium Capacity Working Group.
Are there good models of agricultural extension services that could be successfully replicated in a new context? This is a question that policy makers often ask when seeking to improve their extension systems to reach smallholders more effectively. This involves meeting the real informational needs of farmers, delivering the services more efficiently, and measuring the impact of the new knowledge on productivity.
Those involved in extension face the fundamental factors that affect success of development programs generally, as well as some specific to extension.
In our recent paper (Babu et al, 2013), we explore these issues by comparing how the national extension policy is implemented differently in four states in India, and the reasons for this variation.
The research indicates the following:
Reference
Babu, S.C., P.K. Joshi, C. J. Glendenning, K. Asenso-Okyere, and R. Sulaiman (2013). The State of Agricultural Extension Reforms in India: Strategic Priorities and Policy Options. Agricultural Economics Research Review Vol. 26(No.2) July-December 2013
Read the original blog post here
PIM’s research on agricultural extension is part of the Flagship Project on Adoption of Technology and Sustainable Intensification. The work aims to develop effective, efficient, and sustainable extension and advisory services that contribute to reduction of hunger and poverty worldwide. It re-examines agricultural extension in light of changes in communication technology and the increased interplay of public and private actors within innovation systems. The mid-term outcomes include: strengthened extension and advisory services at individual, organizational, and system levels; increased evidence of what works in extension approaches; improved metrics for extension and advisory services. The gender dimension of the research focuses on designing public extension and advisory services programs to meet informational needs of men and women equally.
Related links:
PIM’s workshop “Research on Agricultural Extension Systems: What Have We Learned, and Where Do We Go from Here?” October 15-16, 2013.