Development of a Family-Focused Advisory Programme in the Republic of Ireland

Abstract

Advisory services in Ireland have evolved towards a technical focus, away from the farm family and household. However, even though there is less overall involvement of families in the running of farms, decision-making is influenced by more than the farm operator. Teagasc introduced the 'Opportunities for Farm Families Programme' in 2001, which recognised that the challenges facing farmers required a 'whole family' response. The fundamental objective of the programme is to help farm families generate additional household income and improve quality of life. The aim of the research outlined in this paper was to determine the views and attitudes of advisers and farm families to the programme. The majority of advisers and participants considered that the programme helped farm families to take a realistic look at their current situation and was useful in terms of identifying ideas to improve their income and quality of life. Families who participated together derived greater benefit than individuals. The key lesson learned from this research was the importance of early evaluation of new advisory approaches. Educational institutions and extension agents need to highlight the importance of an objective assessment of both the deliverers' (advisers) and target groups' (participants) views on extension programmes. For assessments during programme delivery to be successful, they must be focused on the development of the programme and not the monitoring of extension agents. The information gathered from assessments should be used to guide the further development of programmes and appropriate training for advisers.

Power, Positionality and the View from within: Agricultural Advisers' Role in Implementing Participatory Extension Programmes in the Republic of Ireland

“…Nevertheless, under pressure at national and management level to react to a changing international agricultural scene, extension advisers are expected to sell the programme to farm families. This becomes an even more challenging task when the demand‐led component of the programme is clearly missing and when farmers have become accustomed to a definite tangible output (such as a scheme application, grant or subsidy application or technical targets) from the advisory contact (Bogue 2004; Farrell et al. 2008).…”

Preliminary Investigation of the Incidence and Impact of Disability on Irish Farms

“…Perry andBloom (1998, as cited in Seiz &Downey, 2001) suggest that, "prevention programmes, to be effective, must be responsive to the concerns and values expressed by the population to whom they are directed". Indeed Extension Workers may be viewed "as a catalyst and facilitator of learning processes" (Kroma, 2003, p. 43), especially when the potential user (i.e., farmer) is involved in the programme from the onset (Sadighi & Mohammadzadeh, 2002;Bogue & Phelan, 2004;Kroma 2003;Rogers, 1995). Involving the target audience from the beginning empowers them to "act on the concerns that they jointly define" (Morton, 2001, as cited in Morton, 2002).…”

Exploring the Quality of Life of Farm Families in Ireland: Implications for Extension

“…The technical and direct payments focus of the advisory service in Ireland resulted in the social and family issues being somewhat sidelined and the "bigger picture" of the overall direction of the farm and household unit being lost. The holistic approach adopted in this programme (Opportunities for Farm Families) involved the farm family and looked at the wider family and household issues (Bogue & Phelan, 2004).…”