IPMSInnovative Extension

Ranjitha Puskur

Presented at Tigray Technology Exhibition

13-14 March 2006

Role of extension

Key actors in agricultural innovation system Major source of knowledge for farmers Strong and wide grassroots presence

Pursuing market-oriented agricultural development following an ISA, requires extension to take on a transformed role - not just technology transfer Extension – not just a service or a system,

rather a knowledge and information support function

the new role has to evolve and be tested..

While technology transfer is important..

Interrelationship between actors, intensive communication include all those who contribute to innovation Extension organisations should become the

nodal point for linking farmers to both technology and non-technology services – creation of networks

New extension approaches need to emerge locally, based on experimentation, learning and adaptation to prevailing circumstances Building on existing structures and strengths “Flexibility” should be the mantra..

To enable market-oriented development..

Envisaged functions of extension.. Move to commodity value chain approach Help farmers respond to market signals by

providing information on Markets (prices, quantities, location, timing) Market requirements (grades & standards, quality) Technical market information (Post harvest

handling/packaging, processing) Prospective markets (new and alternative markets)

Acquire regular complete market intelligence Establish marketing and agro-processing

linkages between farmer groups, markets and private processors

Advise on product planning, benefits of direct marketing

Farmer capacity building

Capacity building of farmers should be aimed at helping them respond to constantly evolving markets, in addition to improving production and productivity..

Organize commodity based farmer interest groups and build their capabilities to bargain, negotiate and understand market functions, stakeholder strategies and, price formation

Enhance interactive and communication skills of individual farmers to exchange views with customers and other market forces

Support to entrepreneurship

Potential role of FTCs and DAs

Not just “training” centres – but “knowledge” centres

Multi-purpose sites where farmers Can receive training and exposure to new

production, processing and marketing technologies and management techniques

Can be facilitated to directly access available technical knowledge and market information

Get support to work collectively on marketing issues such as access to inputs and collective marketing of outputs

Get technical and other support for small scale agro-processing and post-harvest operations by households, farmer groups and co-ops

Are facilitated to forge linkages with markets and other services

Optimal use of FTCs

Depends on.. Quality and relevance of services and training

offered – ensured through community consultations

Technical and financial support to DAs Effective linkages of FTCs with woreda level

marketing and co-operative experts Continuous upgrading of skills of DAs Provision of adequate and relevant training

and demonstration materials, both related to production and marketing and, their continuous updating

Effective inclusion of gender and HIV concerns in extension activities

FTCs..

Important to pilot innovative approaches in few FTCs and scale up based on experiences and lessons learnt Recognise value of diversity of approaches

and arrangements – flexibility No blue prints even for market-oriented

extension support- recognising that market-orientation might not be possible in all woredas/PAs – e.g., food insecure woredas

Interconnecting farmers using appropriate media

Use of appropriate technologies Modern ICTs need significant initial and

operating cost Application should be considered along with

more traditional extension methods Address the problem of scale, complexity, and

fiscal sustainability Print with graphics and radio – appropriate and

cost-effective for developing countries Suitability of medium depends on the message,

target audience, and social environment

Information Development for Client & Media (Business, Market, Technical, Legal, Environmental)

Information

Sources

Govt. Agencies

Universities

Ethiopian Research

Academies

Agricultural

Institutions

Input Suppliers

Foreign Sources

International Research

Institutes

Local/Foreign

Data Banks

Client Information

Needs Assessment

Print Radio Video Computer TVExhibitions

& Fairs

Multimedia

Multiusers

Private Farms Co-operatives Government Agro Industries Consumers

Rural Information and Knowledge System

Feedback Feedback

Multisource

Multidisciplinary

Opportunities

Commitment in principle to decentralize, to implementing participatory

extension approaches, to develop demand-driven extension

and research services, to co-operative development and

improvement Strong infrastructure of TVETs for

capacity development of extension functionaries

The way forward..

Need for a national/regional agriculture extension policy/framework and a strategy to institutionalize the changes Changes in organisational cultures and

professional attitudes – through action learning

“Change agents” within the system and political commitment at a high level

Clear definitions of mandates and roles of functionaries at various levels

Review of incentive structures

The way forward..

Making extension services/training demand-driven Participatory Extension and market-oriented

approaches need to be mainstreamed Needs capacity development - integrate into TVET

curriculum

Capacity development – staff and system Not only training - but learning by doing,

facilitated experimentation Not only personnel and infrastructure –

but development of linkages and networks

FTCs as knowledge centres – nodes for experiential learning Stimulate a diversity of extension innovations

that respond adaptively to local and evolving circumstances

Learn from experiences to distill principles for scaling up

Integration of HIV and gender concerns Incorporate into TVET and university curricula Incorporate short awareness sessions into all

training programmes/courses

The way forward..

Critical role of M&E

Review the current M&E plan Revise it to make it more learning

oriented - move towards more innovative targets Outcome monitoring and responsibility

Mainstream planning, implementation and M&E tools

Accountability to farmers or FAs - farmer control over R&E resources

Thank you..