Agriculture and Agribusiness

Agricultural Extension and Farmer Training

Extension advice is frequently correct and still not adopted, because the recommendation assumed cash, labour or risk tolerance the farmer does not have, and nobody asked. This course is about advice that gets taken. Delegates work through why farmers make the decisions they do, including risk aversion that is rational when a failed season means hunger. Farming systems analysis follows, so a recommendation fits the whole farm rather than one crop. Extension approaches are covered across individual visits, group methods, demonstration plots, farmer field schools and lead farmer models, with the cost and reach of each. Adult learning principles are applied, since farmers learn by doing rather than by being told. Demonstration design is addressed, including the comparison that makes a result convincing. Communication is covered, including local language, visual materials and radio or message based channels. Gender and household decision making are addressed directly, since the person trained is often not the person who decides. Monitoring adoption follows. The course closes on working with input suppliers and buyers.