Improved Nutrition through Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services: Case Studies of Curriculum Review and Operational Lessons from India

Babu, Suresh Chandra; Singh, Manjit; Hymavathi, T. V.; Rani, Kirti; Kavitha, G.; Karthik, S

doi:10.1596/23767

Cited by 2 publications

(3 citation statements)

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“…The limited improvements in capacity following the trainings are not unique. Several authors 16,19 -21 similarly reported limited progress in the ability to undertake NSA-related activities following training in some case studies. Based on the works of these and like authors, crucial factors for training effectiveness for improved implementation have been identified that were missing from the federal- and state-level trainings that our paper reports.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Training to Build Nutrition Capacity in the Nigerian Agricultural Sector: Initial Assessment and Future Directions

et al. 2022

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Background: In response to calls to increase nutrition-sensitive agriculture (NSA), the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development developed the Nigeria Agricultural Sector Food Security and Nutrition Strategy 2016-2025 (AFSNS). Capacity development activities to facilitate the AFSNS implementation subsequently commenced. Objective: This study analyzed the processes and outputs of initial capacity development efforts, examined findings from the analysis using existing literature, and identified critical next steps for nutrition capacity development in the Nigerian agriculture sector. Methods: The study reviewed documents including a proposal for nutrition training of agriculture sector actors, reports of meetings held among 6 resource persons who designed and/or delivered training, training reports, participants’ pre- and posttraining assessments, and participants’ training evaluation. Interviews were conducted with 2 resource persons involved in training design and delivery. Documents and interviews were coded and analyzed to identify emergent themes. Participants’ pre- and posttests results were compared using paired t test in Stata 12.0. Results: Knowledge and practice gaps were more extensive than had been anticipated. Training had some but limited effects on knowledge scores at the federal level. Modules addressing implementation practices had to be scaled down for participants to keep up with the learning pace. Existing literature indicates that such training would have been better planned as part of a broader sectoral nutrition workforce strategy, to facilitate greater tailoring of training to participants’ job roles. Conclusion: Effective AFSNS implementation requires developing and operationalizing a comprehensive short-, medium- and long-term Agriculture Sector Nutrition Capacity Development Strategy for Nigeria.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Training to Build Nutrition Capacity in the Nigerian Agricultural Sector: Initial Assessment and Future Directions

et al. 2022

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“…The effectiveness of the role of extension services in addressing farmers' information and knowledge gaps and promoting innovations and technologies has often been strongly criticized (Babu et al, 2016;FAO, 2011FAO, , 2017Gautam, 2000;Kondylis et al, 2017). Further, the effectiveness of extension services in improving farmers' performance often faces criticisms such as the lack of capacity of extension staff to tackle emerging concerns such as climate change, natural resource management and food security (FAO, 2011), generic top-down content to which the farmers cannot relate (FAO, 2017) and inefficacy in reaching most farmers and providing relevant information (Kondylis et al, 2017), especially to the changes in demand for extension (FAO, 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Further, the effectiveness of extension services in improving farmers' performance often faces criticisms such as the lack of capacity of extension staff to tackle emerging concerns such as climate change, natural resource management and food security (FAO, 2011), generic top-down content to which the farmers cannot relate (FAO, 2017) and inefficacy in reaching most farmers and providing relevant information (Kondylis et al, 2017), especially to the changes in demand for extension (FAO, 2011). On the other hand, a publication by the World Bank asserts the role of extension advisory services in enabling agricultural transformation, and efforts are underway to revive their role in several developing countries (Babu et al, 2016). This assertion might be due to the perception of economic returns by farmers who seek extension services (Elias et al, 2016) and its inherent potential to facilitate information flow -especially as regards modern agricultural technology (Glendenning et al, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adopting modern agricultural technologies and impact on economic performance: evidence from cashew farmers in Kenya

Nnahiwe

Hejkrlík

Bavorová

2023

Int. Food Agribus. Manag. Rev.

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Despite the inherent potential of and merits in adopting modern agricultural technology, the present-day farmer in Sub-Saharan Africa is yet to catch up with the rest of the world in harnessing this potential. To extend the knowledge in the adoption of technology theory, this study examines factors, in particular farmers’ group participation and access to agricultural extension services on farmers’ adoption of modern agricultural technologies (specifically, the use of fertilizers, chemicals and appropriate plant density) and the consequent impact of adopting these agricultural technologies on farmers’ economic performance (income) in the coastal regions of Kenya. Logit regression and multiple linear regression models were used to analyse a sample of 372 smallholder cashew farmers in the Coastal Province of Kenya in 2018. The results show that access to extension services and group membership have statistically significant effects on adopting modern agricultural technologies, namely on fertilizer and pesticide usage and appropriate planting densities. However, fertilizer usage had a negative effect on economic performance while pesticide application showed no effect, and higher planting density had a positive effect. The study recommends that the policy should prioritize extension programs that leverage local platforms such as farmer groups to disseminate agricultural information and economically feasible technologies, such as appropriate cashew planting density – as this was shown to lead to more profitable agribusiness ventures.

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Improved Nutrition through Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services: Case Studies of Curriculum Review and Operational Lessons from India

Cited by 2 publications

References 0 publications

Training to Build Nutrition Capacity in the Nigerian Agricultural Sector: Initial Assessment and Future Directions

Training to Build Nutrition Capacity in the Nigerian Agricultural Sector: Initial Assessment and Future Directions

Adopting modern agricultural technologies and impact on economic performance: evidence from cashew farmers in Kenya

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