Global Need for Revitalization of Agricultural Extension Training

This article surveys the trends in agricultural extension programmes and services found across the world, including privatization, decentralization, and pluralism. The general movement from top-down extension services to demand-driven programmes is explored along with its impact on the skills needed by extension professionals. Process skills and competencies required of modern extension professionals—programme planning and development, programme implementation, written and spoken communication, educational and informational technology, facilitative leadership, diversity and multiculturalism, public relations, and applied research and evaluation—are explained and linked to relevant skill sets. In-service training of current extension agents and improvements to the facilities, faculty, and curricula used in the education of future agents are proposed as solutions to the challenges facing agricultural extension programmes and services. In-service training would raise knowledge, skills and attitudes of extension agents to meet changing contexts and needs. The changing nature of professional extension work requires that university training programmes respond with new courses and experiences for students. Practical education through fieldwork, internships, or practicums and techniques for adult learning, technology and communication skills, and leadership development are all possible solutions for closing the gap between the agricultural and extension education training programmes and the competencies required of professional extension agents

Coffee as a Livelihood Support for Small Farmers: A Case Study of Hamsapur Village in Nepal

Coffee production as an income-generating project has been promotedby the Nepalese governmentwith the collaboration of international development agencies. Those areas of Nepal withsuitable climate and geography have the potential to grow high-quality Arabica coffee fortheinternational market. This research examines the possibilities of organiccoffee production as a livelihood support for small-scale farmers in Hamsapur village in Nepal. Using value chain analysis, coffee producers and collectors were interviewed,and semi-structured interviews were conducted with key informants. Findings showed that local farmers have great interest in coffee production;however, the income generation promises have not been realizedbecause of insufficient quality,alack oftransparency in the local coffee market,andorganizational issues. Analysis showedthere is a need for alternativebusinessrelationshipswith producersalong the coffee value chain that result in greater benefit to farmers

Michigan High School Science Teacher Perceptions Of Futures Magazine As A Pedagogical Resource And Career Exploration Tool

The primary objective of the study was to determine whether Futures, the quarterly magazine of the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station (MAES), has helped high school science teachers gain a greater awareness and understanding of agricultural and natural resources research

Trends in Michigan Farmers’ Information Seeking Behaviors and Perspectives on the Delivery of Information

A sample of Michigan farmers was surveyed in 1996 and 1999 to examine trends in their information-seeking behaviors and preferred methods of information delivery. In addition, the relationship between demographic characteristics and types of information sources used were examined. Some key findings for both years include: (a) The vast majority of farmers do not use web-based information; (b) income and farm size was positively correlated with all types of information delivery (print, web-based, radio/TV, organizational events and personal sources); and (c) part-time farmers and those with outside employment tended to use fewer information sources than full-time farmers. Suggestions are offered to help educators make better choices in campaign and message delivery

Exploring the Baseline: What Michigan Residents Know About Michigan State University Extension

Michigan’s Cooperative Extension Service, now called Michigan State University (MSU) Extension, has a long history of serving the state’s residents, especially in agricultural and rural program areas. Today’s Extension works to “help people help themselves” through programs aimed at meeting the needs of urban, suburban, and rural residents. But what do the state’s residents know about the programs offered through this organization? This paper looks at awareness surveys related to Cooperative Extension systems and examines the results of the MSU Extension Market Assessment Survey, a statewide telephone survey conducted by the MSU Institute for Public Policy and Social Research to explore what Michigan residents know about MSU Extension and its main programming areas. Responses were analyzed according to respondents’ ages, education levels, racial and ethnic backgrounds, region of the state and type of community of residence. Analysis showed more than half of Michigan residents were aware of MSU Extension, with wider awareness among older, white and rural residents. However, awareness of MSU Extension programs did not follow this trend. This study will provide information for Extension administrators, educators, and communicators in planning future programming and marketing efforts

AREA OF EXPERTISE TEAMS: THE MICHIGAN APPROACH TO APPLIED RESEARCH AND EXTENSION

Michigan State University's Extension and Agricultural Experiment Station have restructured their educational delivery system through implementation of area of expertise teams. Adopting the concept of self-directed work teams from industry has resulted in enhanced credibility with stakeholders, a seamless linkage between research and Extension, and increased appropriations from the state legislature.Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession,

Leadership for environmental education and conservation: a case of green space park at P.N. Campus, Pokhara

The city of Pokhara in Nepal is facing a tremendous growth pressure, and the municipality has not been able to maintain open space for public use. There are no plans for the development of a nature park or green place where people could see, feel, and touch ornamental plants and flowers in nature. Further, Pokhara municipality lacks an open green space where people could walk, jog or spend leisure or free time

Addressing the Challenges of Extension and Advisory Services in Uganda: The Grameen Foundation’s Community Knowledge Worker Program

Diffusion of agricultural knowledge is vital to food security and capacity building in the developing world. Many developing world farmers still do not have access to extension and advisory services (EAS), and poor agricultural practices still exist. Diffusion of agricultural knowledge could lead to improved productivity, higher obtained prices, and increased incomes, but it is made more difficult in the developing world by poor infrastructure, high illiteracy rates, and too few extension agents. The rapid spread of mobile phones throughout the developing world has sparked many EAS programs that incorporate mobile technologies. Although they offer great potential for knowledge diffusion, research has not yet identified strong positive impacts of mobile technology-based interventions. The Grameen Foundation’s Community Knowledge Worker (CKW) program provides model farmers in Ugandan communities with training and smartphones that are linked to a database with actionable agricultural information. The model farmers (CKWs) interact with their neighbors to share the information in the database. This relatively inexpensive program differs from other EAS initiatives by using a large number of lightly trained “extension agents” and mobile technology that provides those agents with easy-to-access information they share with and help interpret for the farmers in their communities. The program also incorporates ongoing data collection via the smartphones, allowing for a two-way exchange of information and enabling constant monitoring. Two recent studies have shown this program to have positive impacts. An ongoing randomized control trial promises to offer a comprehensive impact assessmen

EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF MICHIGAN LIVESTOCK FARMERS

Michigan State University Extension (MSUE) established areas of expertise (AOE) teams to deliver Extension programs in Michigan more effectively. Increasing the expertise of its staff members at the county level to meet the dynamic educational needs of its clients is important consideration of MSUE. The purpose of this paper is to study the Michigan livestock farmers' educational needs. A sample of Michigan farmers was surveyed in 1996 and 1999, utilizing a standard mail survey. Responses from Michigan livestock farmers were isolated from the database for this study. The study revealed general farm magazines, agricultural newspapers, Extension publication, printed materials from commercial firms and sales persons, and family and friends were primary source of information. Electronic information media and organizational events were not popular. Livestock farmers believed that the MSUE agents had a broad perspective of the farming business and they were not willing to pay a private consultant to help manage their farm/business. Information pertaining to specific topics such as business management, farm management, economics of farm operations, environmental protection, and agricultural marketing were found as important areas of educational needs. Livestock farmers who are 35 years or older and who do not have college education should be the target of these educational programs

In Search of an Alternative Agricultural Extension Strategy: An Action Research on Off-season Vegetable Production in Nepal

Agricultural extension services in Nepal are in serious need of revival. An extension approach that brings agricultural stakeholders together and fosters co-learning among them is paramount for agricultural development. This study, conducted in 2013 in Hamsapur, Nepal, aims to assess the current agricultural extension services and search for an alternative extension strategy for speedy agricultural development. Specifically, the study seeks to examine the current agricultural production patterns; assess farmers’ perceptions of the participatory action research (PAR) approach; and identify barriers for adoption of new agricultural technologies by farmers. Personal interviews and observations were employed for collecting qualitative and quantitative data. Ninety-two farmers participated in the study. Farmers, including women and youths, found off-season tomato production beneficial to them. Marketing of vegetables and lack of irrigation, education and knowledge are problems facing farmers. Farmers are optimistic about increasing farm productivity by adopting new and improved technologies. The PAR approach appears to be effective in helping smallholders when non-governmental organizations, farmers and educational institutions work together. Agricultural programs would likely succeed if there were provision of input such as seeds, fertilizers and farmer-to-farmer extension, and if technologies were market-driven and compatible with target communities