Good practices in extension management for Central America

Subdirección de Investigación y ExtensiónFood and Agriculture Organization of theUnited Nations

Research and Extension Branch

1

Good Practices in Extension Management for Central America

John Preissing, Senior Extension OfficerResearch and Extension Branch (OEKR)

Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations (FAO)

2

Research and Extension BranchFood and Agriculture Organization of theUnited Nations

Justification and context

90’s Reduction or elimination of state services for technical assistance and technology transfer for small and medium producers

Central American Agricultural Policy (2008-2017):

An urgent need to strengthen technical capacities of the institutions targeted at small and medium farmers and strengthening ties between Central American agricultural innovation systems

3


First Intercontinental Meeting of GFRAS (Chile, Nov.10) recommends:

The need to seek guidance and extension models that can contribute to improving the skills and capabilities among the most vulnerable populations and ensure food security for all.

Justification and context (contd.)

Recommendation from the FAO Sub-regional Office for Central America

to implement the study

4


Support the Central American countries to document and systematize good practices on

extension systems and methodologies

» 18 case studies at the country level (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama)

» Regional validation workshop

» Key note presentation at GFRAS in Latin American meeting (Managua, Sept.11)

» Publication

» Paper and presentation at GFRAS International meeting (Nairobi, Nov. 11)

Objective and results:

5


Definition of Good Extension Practice

A good extension practice was defined: a mechanism, method, process or strategy that allows extension functions (technology transfer, development of human and social capital) to be more effective/ or efficient.

It also contributes to the introduction of innovations to improve skills of the communities served and it supports the achievement of greater efficiency in the management of rural livelihoods and natural resources.

Methodology

6


Methodology (contd.)

FinancingInformation Technology and CommunicationCapacity DevelopmentGenderDecentralizationMarketNatural resource management / climate changeResearch and extension linkagesNutrition and healthCommunication and participatory approachesOthers

Themes to be analyzed

7


Conceptual FrameworkRegional Consultant National Partners

National Consultants

StudiesCompilation of StudiesRegional WorkshopPublicationGFRAS

» Producer groups, producers, extension agents, technical agencies» Regional coordinator and national coordinators» National counterparts» Regional support (GFRAS/LA ~ RELASER)» FAO OEKR (Research and Extension Branch); FAO SLM (Sub regional Office for Central America);» FAO Representations: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and FAO Panamá» UE Food Facility (EUFF), FAO –SPFS, Special Programme for Food Security

Methodology (contd.)

Steps

Partners

8


Country Case Study Good Practice

Costa Rica Responsible management of waterAssociation of coffee small-producersMeat agro- chain in Chorotega

Natural Resources Capacity DevelopmentMarketing

El Salvador Markets for sustainable agriculture in hill sides Inversión de la Mirada Family Farming (Agricultura Familiar)

Markets and Nat. ResourcesDecentralizationNutrition and health

Guatemala Micro-watershed management planning related to extensionCommunity organizations (with their own system of extensionists)Capitalization of incentives to support innovation processes

Participatory approachesDecentralizationFinancing

Honduras Small coffee producers with a protected designation of originRural development experience with a regional focusRural Credit Unions

MarketingNatural ResourcesFinancing

Nicaragua Market of technologiesAdvice to rural grassroots' s organizationsRural promoters and farmer field schools

Research and extension linksNatural ResourcesCapacity Development

Panamá Strengthening of human capitalParticipation of indigenous women in capacity developmentRural micro-finance systems

Capacity DevelopmentGenderFinancing

9


Training in conservation agriculture in Guatemala

Members of water society in Costa Rica

Rural Credit Unions in Honduras

10


EXTENSIONIST AS INNOVATION BROKER

PARTNERSHIPS AND COORDINATION OF ACTORS

DEMAN DRIVEN EXTENSION

DELIVERY SYSTEM

PLUS-PLUS PARTNERHSIP

EXTENSIONISTS ACCOUNTABLE TO SMALLHOLDERS

PRODUCERS

PROMOTING THE USE OF APPROPRIATE

EXTENSION METHODOLOGIES

11


DEMAN DRIVEN EXTENSION DELIVERY SYSTEM

Extension’s effectiveness increases with greater client participation in decision-making

GUATEMALA: The community develops action plans through watershed diagnosis conducted with support from extension. This system of knowledge creation and sharing has a greater impact. Extension develop their work plans based on these results (Dpto. San Marco).

EXTENSIONIST AS INNOVATION BROKER

Traditional extension services must move towards rural advisory services that integrate different aspects such as farmer’s organizations, business management, added value, market integration and capacity development.

HONDURAS: The role of the extension was key to organizing small coffee producers and to help form alliances between producers, processors, and the final market for their coffee with a protected designation of origin (Café Marcala)

12


PROMOTING THE USE OF APPROPRIATE EXTENSION METHODOLOGIES

NICARAGUA: The Nicaraguan Institute of Technology Transfer is testing the combination of Farmer Field Schools (FFS) and

rural promoters. Its aim is to increase the coverage by rural promoters and the effectiveness by using FFS.

EXTENSIONISTS ACCOUNTABLE TO SMALLHOLDER PRODUCERS

EL SALVADOR: In “Invertir la Mirada” an approach is used where producers contract for services from extensionists spelling out deliverables. The extensionists

learned and used new skills and are accountable to the producers.

13

Research and Extension BranchFood and Agriculture Organization of theUnited Nations PARTNERSHIPS AND COORDINATION OF

ACTORS

A multidimensional approach seeking participation of different actors in the agriculture innovation system (public and private, local) in order to access to new and more resources

COSTA RICA: The role of extension was key to coordinating different actors including the Livestock Chamber, National Training Institute, and producers in the production of bovine meat in the agrifood chain of Chorotega

PLUS-PLUS PARTNERHSIP

In seeking partnerships there should be not just a win-win partnership, but a plus-plus, where the benefits are additive.

PANAMA: Nestle, PROMEGA (university outreach programme) and the producers came together to achieve higher quality production with more affordable and timely inputs in dairy production

14


Discussion of results

Enabling environmentOrganization levelIndividual level

15


Enabling environment level•Application of multidimensional approach to promoting the participation of all stakeholders•Capacity building should include a combination of different methods of intervention

Organizational level•Promote greater participation facilitates the credibility of extension•New approaches with new actors (public and private), new organizational forms and new alliances•Ensure the "additive effect" that bring strategic alliances into the communities that are served•Achieving concrete impact and change through capacity development, it occurs gradually and requires long-term monitoring processes

Individual level •Extensionists as innovation brokers •Recognition of the rural context of the communities (not only the productive)•Revaluation of the role of the extension (expanding its mandate beyond technology transfer)•The extensionist is not a "superman" but should be able to analyze and seek solutions to the

reality of the groups served•Promote activities aimed at training and development of extensionists

16


» The status of the extension in the region should be reconsidered (new skills and roles that integrate different aspects such as farmer’s organizations, business management, added value, market integration and capacity development)

» Extension should be strengthened by capacity development and institutional reform

» The extension should consider comprehensive approaches based on the reality of the rural livelihoods, using medium to long term processes that should be able to adapt to new needs

» Some Central American countries are at the right time for reforming and renewing their extension systems

» Need for better tools to evaluate and measure the impact of extension e.g.: GFRAS evaluation manual; efficiency vs. efficacy of rural promoters

Recommendations

17


» Use the findings for project design and implementation

» Share the framework for future studies

» Publication translated into English

» Dissemination of the results

» Analysis of rural promoters

For the future

18


THANKS!

[email protected]

Documents

Good practices in extension management for Central America