Review Of Evaluation In Agricultural Extension

Extension and advisory services (EAS) are well recognized as a key factor in contributing to agricultural productivity and growth. However, rigorous evaluation of EAS approaches and assessment of complex national or subnational pluralistic EAS systems are rare. This working paper examines the literature on experiential and empirical insights and explores methods to assess complex pluralistic EAS systems. The authors present conceptual thinking on innovation systems and EAS, and review the IFPRI “best-fit” framework. This framework remains relevant because it is based on a holistic perspective with an impact pathway orientation. The paper aims to operationalize and improve the best-fit framework to guide the evaluation of complex EAS systems. The authors draw on and summarize existing literature to illustrate methods and tools used to analyze each component of the framework. The review pays close attention to the literature and methods for assessing the diversity of service providers and their various delivery tools and learning approaches. The discussion also pays close attention to the interaction of each component and how it affects the performance and impact of EAS from a systems perspective. This paper adds key points and considerations on how to operationalize the best-fit framework to carry out evaluations of pluralistic EAS.

The paper provides guidelines for managers and technical staff in extension agencies who plan, organize, implement and utilize monitoring activities and, when necessary, subsequent evaluations. It defines the information needs of extension managers, discusses administrative and logistic requirements, and reviews techniques for data collection, analysis, presentation and dissemination which experience has shown to be realistic and timely for extension agencies. The Training and Visit approach to agricultural extension services facilitates the organization and utilization of a monitoring system because of its detailed work programs, intensive training and supervision of field agents, and systematic feedback from the farmers to management. The paper focuses on extension agencies using the T & V approach but is of general application for any extension method.

This book on Improving Agricultural Extension: a Reference Manual offers a critical review and inventory-analysis of the State of the Art in agricultural extension theory and best practices written by internationally known agricultural extension practitioners, educators and scholars. A total of 38 authors from 15 countries contributed to the 23 chapters of this book and thus they provided broad international perspectives, covering both theory and practice, as well as micro and macro issues related to agricultural extension. It is the third edition of a classic reference manual on agricultural extension published by the Food an Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. Aimed at agricultural extension planners, managers, trainers, educators, and field practitioners, this book could be useful in improving the quality of agricultural extension and in generating new ideas and methods for increasing further the cost-effectiveness of agricultural extension programmes. It provides many sound and practical suggestions for developing and improving the conceptual, technical and operational methods and tools in order to strategically plan, efficently manage and scientifically evaluate a problem-solving, demand-driven and needs-based agricultural extension programmes. Contents Part I: Overview of Extension in Agricultural and Rural Development; Chapter 1: The history, development and future of agricultural extension by Gqyn E Jones and Chris Garforth; Chapter 2: Alternative approaches to organizing extension by Uwe Jens Nagel; Chapter 3: The context of extension in agricultural and rural development by Warren Peterson; Chapter 4: The economic contributions of agricultural extension to agricultural and rural development by Robert Evenson; Part II: Improving Extension Programmes and Process; Chapter 5: Assessing target gorup needs by N L McCaslin and Jovan P Tibezinda; Chapter 6: Using rapid or participatory rural appraisal by Jules N Pretty and Simplice D Volouhe; Chapter 7: Developing and delivering extension programmes by Artur Christovao, Timothy Koehnen and Jose Portela; Chapter 8: Selecting appropriate content and methods in programme delivery by Dunstan A Campbell and St Clair Barker; Chapter 9: Improving Women Farmer Access to Extension Services by Janice Jiggins, R K Samanta and Janice E Olawoye; Chapter 10: Implementing strategic extension campaigns by Ronny Adhikarya; Chapter 11: Evaluating extension programmes by David Deshler; Part III: Improving Extension Management; Chapter 12: Formulating extension policy by Tito E Contado; Chapter 13: Improving the Organization and Management of Extension by M W Waldron, J Vsanthakumar and S Arulraj; Chapter 14: Managing human resources within extension by K Vijayaragavan and Y P Singh; Chapter 15: Training and professional development by Abdul Halim and Md Mozahar Ali; Chapter 16: Acquiring and managing financial resources by Robert P Bentz; Chapter 17: Monitoring extension programmes and resources by D C Misra; Chapter 18: Establishing a Management Information System by A Ramesh Babu, Y P Singh and R K Sachdeva; Chapter 19: Strengthening research-extension-farmer linkages by Burton E Swanson; Part IV: Current Trends and Development; Chapter 20: Extension s role in sustainable agricultural development by Niels Roling and Jules N Pretty; Chapter 21: Establishing and strengthening farmer organizations by Shankariah Chamala and P M Shingi; Chapter 22: Privatizing agricultural extension by William M Rivera and John W Cary; Chapter 23: The role of nongovernmental organizations in extension by John Farrington.

The Training and Visit (T&V) system of management was introduced in Kenya by the World Bank in 1982 as a pilot, which became effective in 1991. The two Bank Extension Projects that supported the T&V system sought to increase agricultural productivity and develop the institutions of the extension service. Whether the extension approach is effective or not became a subject for debate. The costs appear to be high and the impact on agricultural production low. This volume evaluates the impact of the system based on a credible body of empirical evidence. It identifies the system's deficiencies and makes recommendations for improvement.