Extension Services Delivery and Information Systems

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In today's world, the pace of change is accelerated, and people are continually involved in it, either as passive elements or as active citizens, more often as mere project recipients or targets. (Swanson, et al., 1997). Extension planners throughout the world face the difficult challenges of being creative in their programme development efforts and responsive to the needs of rural communities and farmers. 

Considering the non-existence of an ideal or universal programme development model or approach, different options and choices are available and may be dependent upon a great number of variables. It is necessary, for example, to have a clear definition of who plans (the institutional scene), for whom (the potential beneficiaries), who takes the initiative, what the goals are, what the means are, what the time frame is, and what the sociopolitical environment is. Other variables may also be very important, such as the source of funds or the project's physical scope (Dusseldorp & Zijderveld, 1991).

Expectations regarding the appropriate use of technology at the various levels in the extensions service delivery are usually quite different. (Kopecky, 2016)

The interest of the farmer should be considered during the development and implementation of Information systems. The FAO points out that “Farmers' interests are disregarded even more as most of the agricultural innovations are written and broadcast in English instead of the local language” (FAO; World Bank, 2000)

Information gaps between rural and urban areas have jeopardized the ability of rural people to realize their full potential and improve their economic, social and environmental conditions and

The World Bank indicates a factsheet that “while men and women farmers share many responsibilities, they often have different production systems, and different needs and constraints relating to the farming activities” (World Bank, n.d.) the development of extensions service delivery systems should include gender considerations.

A strategic approach to implementing an information system for Extensions Services Delivery is “to allow networking through two fully-integrated and inter-dependent components i.e. Human and Technological” (Treinen & Rudgard, 2009)

The effectiveness with which an agricultural knowledge and information system empowers producers to innovate and improve the productivity and sustainability of their enterprises depends on which people and organisations participate in the system (system membership) (Kaine, et al., 1999)






References



Dusseldorp, D. V. & Zijderveld, K., 1991. Preparation and Implementation of Development Projects in the Third World. Wageningen: Wageningen Agricultural University.

FAO; World Bank, 2000. Agricultural Knowledge and Information Systems for Rural Development (AKIS/RD).Strategic Vision and Guiding Principles., Rome: FAO.

Kaine, G., Doyle, B., Reeve, I. & Lees, J., 1999. Agricultural Knowledge and Information Systems: A Network Analysis. Christchurch, The Rural Development Centre, University of New England.

Kopecky, L. F. R., 2016. The introduction of smartphones as a tool for agricultural extension in rural Uganda:. Iowa: Iowa State University.

Swanson, B. E., Bentz, R. P. & Sofranko, A. J., 1997. Improving agricultural extension. A reference manual. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

Treinen, S. & Rudgard, S., 2009. Rural information and communication systems: lessons learned through linking research to extension. Rome, FAO.

World Bank, sd Agricultural Knowledge and Information Systems (AKIS): Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education. sl: World Bank.

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