developing innovative extension systems to reach small-scale, poor men and women farmers burton e....
TRANSCRIPT
Developing Innovative Extension Systems to reach Small-scale, poor Men and
Women Farmers
Burton E. SwansonProfessor Emeritus of Rural Development
University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignModernizing Extension and Advisory Services Project
Coordinator, Worldwide Extension Study
Background
Key goals of the international community: Maintain national food security and Increase the incomes of small-scale farm households
Agricultural extension can be the key pathway to achieving both goals
However, pluralistic extension systems are now common in most countries (and competing for resources)
First, let me give you an overview of the pluralistic extension systems now functioning in most developing countries, especially due to USAID’s strong value-chain strategy
Demand Supply
SUPPORTING FUNCTIONS
RULES
Laws
Info
rmal
rule
s
& n
orm
s
Standards
Regulations
InformationIn
fras
truc
ture
Related
services
Value Chains are now the Primary Donor-Financed Advisory Services
Business membership
organisations
GovernmentPrivate sector
Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs)
MARKET PLAYERS
InputSuppliers
Producers Wholesale Retailers
USAID: Meeting the Challengesof Value Chain Development: A Learning Event
Unless specified in project design, the primary recipients are the more progressive (male) farmers
Generally, only 5-10% of farmers are served by all of these donor funded projects;
Most advisory services provided by value-chain projects are not sustainable after projects end;
In many cases, entrepreneurial NGOs are: hiring away the best public extension workers (Liberia); or giving public extension workers the program & travel
funds needed so they can give good advisory services to farmers in their target area (Malawi), but then these NGOs take most of the credit for these services.
Key Problems of Donor Supported Pluralistic Extension Systems
USAID’s new FtT Strategy is now focusing on the Rural Poor, but…
They still want to pursue about 4 value-chains, which differ from country to country
In most countries, the primary focus is still on staple food crops, many of which are primarily grown by male farmers, plus livestock (e.g. sheep or goats)
The current plan is for USAID to only finance local organizations (not int’l firms), but are still reluctant to invest in public extension (e.g. Bangladesh).
With this overview of the donor-driven approach, let’s look at the key extension functions and then examine how new innovative extension systems can help the rural poor
• Building social capital: Helping
men and women farmers organize into
producer groups to increase market access &
other needed services
• Achieving Long- term food security by using sustainable land, soil, water & other NRM practices
• Increasing farm-household income by
helping small-scale men and women
farmers learn how to produce and
market high- value food products
• To achieve national food security the primary target group will continue to be small-scale male farmers since they produce these crops in most countries
Technology transfer, especially for the staple food crops Training
farmers how to intensify &
diversify their farming
systems
Training farmers how
to organize into producer and self-help
groups
Training farmers how to use sustainable NRM practices
Training rural women how to improve family nutrition and use improved family planning, hygiene and health care practices
Improving Rural LivelihoodsMaintaining National Food Security
PRODUCT INNOVATION PROCESS INNOVATION
What are the Key Functions of an Effective,Comprehensive Agricultural Extension Systems
Key Functions of an Innovative, Market-Driven Extension System in Helping Small-Scale Men AND Women Farmers Increase their Household Income
An Innovative Extension
System
1Expanding
High-Value
Markets6
Develop Market Chains
5
Train Interested Farmers 4
Farmer-to Farmer Assess-
ment
3
Organize Self-Help Groups
2
Identify Innovative Farmers
On-farmresearch re:
HVC/Ps recommend-
ations
Research on HV Markets
& Value Chains
PRA
NGOs can helporganize SHGs,especially ruralwomen
Why Should Extension Systems become more Decentralized and Bottom-Up?
1. Both markets for high-value crops/products and agro-ecological conditions are location specifica. First, extension workers should identify which HVC/Ps
have the highest potential of success in each area
b. One approach is to identify innovative farmers who are already producing and marketing specific products
2. In addition, to make extension systems more farmer-driven, they must formally establish Steering and/or Advisory Committees to identify the specific needs and priorities of representative poor farmers, especially rural women!
Example of how the ATMA approach was ImplementedIn the Patna District in Bihar, India
Diara = Ganges river-basinSilt builds-up in the diara, which is good for post-monsoon horticultural crops
Tal = wetlands good for post-monsoon (rabi) pulse cropsNumber and type of FIGs and SHGs
created in different blocks in Patna District, Bihar (Slide developed by K.M. Singh, 2008)
Vegetables - 46 FIGs/SHGs
HMACs – 140 FIGs
Dairy – 125 FIGs/SHGs
Poultry/Fish - 35 FIGs/SHGs
Beekeeping – 13 FIGs/SHGS
Vermi-compost – 52 SHGs
Mushrooms – 152 FIGs/SHGs
Basmati Rice-40 FIGs
Pulses - 25 FIGs
Oilseeds - 10 FIGs
Potato/Onion - 35 FIGs
(Slide developed by K.M. Singh, 2008)
Major Urban Centres
Floriculture 19 FIGs/SHGs
Swanson, Singh & Reddy, 2008
Post-harvest – 26 SHGs
Micro-credit = 45 SHGs
TOTAL= 763, including 249 SHGs
Why Should Pluralistic Extension Systems be Transformed?
With rapidly increasing economic growth in most developing countries), urban consumption is changing, including Increased demand for meat, milk and horticultural products; Many of these products are traditional produced by rural women
Most Asian countries have maintained and some are now transforming their public extension systems; however, many SSA and most LAC countries have either reduced or eliminated their public extension systems.
Finally, if pluralistic extension systems are to help small-scale farm households to improve their livelihoods, they must become more a) decentralized, b) farmer-led and c) market-driven!
Role of Non-Governmental Organizations Providing Agricultural Advisory Services
The role of NGOs in providing extension services has changed substantially over past 20+ years Originally, most NGOs focused on “social skills” Now, with expanded donor resources being invested in
agriculture, “entrepreneurial NGOs” are hiring away the best public agricultural extension advisors, and
Most new agricultural NGOs are very successful in competing for and carrying out donor-driven projects, especially those focused on “value chains.”
But, are these new NGO advisory service providers sustainable after donor funding ceases?
There is a need for Public-Private Partnerships!
Conclusions
1. Value Chains are important, but donors should think more broadly about all HVC/Ps, not just 4!
2. Donors must think about how to intensify and diversify farming systems for small-scale farm households, especially rural women!
3. Organizing farmer groups is very important, but poor farmers cannot take many risks and what they can produce and market will be based on: Size of farm and their agro-ecological conditions Gender and number of family members
who can work on these very small farms
Conclusions
4. Public extension should give priority to process innovations, especially focusing on the rural poor
5. Public extension must also give high priority to natural resource management (NRM) practices
6. To make these institutional changes, public extension systems must become more decentralized, farmer-led and market-driven.
7. Finally, the donor community should start reinvesting in public extension systems to make it more financially sustainable