Strengthening Agricultural Extension and Advisory Systems

The purpose of this paper is to provide
information on how to transform and strengthen pluralistic
agricultural extension and advisory systems in moving toward
the broader goal of increasing farm income and improving
rural livelihoods. The focus of this book is primarily on
the technical knowledge, management skills, and information
services that small-scale farm households will need to
improve their livelihoods in the rapidly changing global
economy. In addition, the book will also include information
on how extension should help all types of farmers in dealing
with escalating natural resource problems, including climate
change. The primary focus of this paper will be a
comparative analysis of different extension strategies,
organizational models, institutional innovations, and
resource constraints and how an extension system might be
transformed and strengthened through specific policy and
organizational changes as well as needed investments. This
paper is organized into nine chapters. These chapters follow
an institution building strategy used by many donors and
governments as they seek to improve their extension system.
The diagram in Figure one outlines these basic planning,
implementation, and evaluation procedures that will be
considered. The sections outlined below will provide a brief
overview of the different chapters included in this paper.