The researchers conducted an ethnographic case study in three villages in Mali (West Africa) to ascertain shea butter producers' perceptions toward technologies that improve the efficiency of shea butter production. The study revealed that the appropriateness of time and labor saving technologies for Malian women who produce shea butter depended on: 1) the relative cost of the technologies; 2) the accessibility of information on new technologies; 3) the arduousness of the work avoided; 4) the economic status of the households and of the women's associations; and 5) the productivity of the participants in other economic activities. The study confirmed the conclusions of previous researchers who noted that external technical assistance from developed countries played a vital catalytic role in upgrading traditional technologies. Top-down technical assistance was not the best dissemination means. Participants preferred producer-led training along with visual aids. New shea butter processing technologies were requested by participants, and an understanding of the local context for technology application as well as a strong field presence of trainers during designing and testing was important for dissemination.

The performance of extension agents and agencies in Africa has been questioned. Calls to provide more professional development are pervasive. This study assessed the views of extension agents who had completed the SAFE training program regarding their experiences with Supervised Enterprise Projects (SEPs) as a tool for serving clients. Semi-structured, focus group interviews were used to collect data. The graduates' concerns in regard to difficulties and constraints associated with the SEPs included cost, supervisory practices, project scope, and standards for project reporting and thesis writing. The SEPs needed systematic financial support, more effective supervision, a standardized reporting format, and networking with potential funders.

Achievement of sustainable agricultural development and national food security in Africa is dependent on several factors, including productivity in the livestock production sub-sector. This study surveyed farmers’ perceptions on provision of extension services relating to livestock production in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Benin. A structured questionnaire comprising dichotomous, multiple-choice, and open-ended questions was used to survey a total of 1560 farmers in Burkina Faso, 345 in Mali, and 480 in Benin. Most farmers surveyed pursued integrated crop and livestock production, but more frequently in Burkina Faso (91%) than in Mali and Benin (66%). Around one-third (36%) of the respondents in Burkina Faso had access to livestock extension services, while the corresponding figure in Mali and Benin was 54% and 69%, respectively (p < 0.01). Moreover, 71% of respondents in Mali, 73% in Burkina Faso, and 84% in Benin reported significantly (p < 0.05) fewer extension activities for livestock compared with crop production. Thus, livestock production seems to be given low priority in agricultural extension interventions. We recommend that future diffusion of technological packages should be more holistic, considering the major concerns of the specific environment and the socio-cultural traditions of both livestock and crop producers.