How can agricultural extension workers support small farms?

Around the world, many rural families now endure hungry seasons that can last from one to six months. As trees vanish, soils are depleted and weather conditions worsen, farmers struggle to feed their families. What can be done to support family farms in developing countries?

Small family farms constitute much of the world’s tropical agriculture. For most poor countries, agriculture is the basis of economic growth. Research by Catholic Relief Services (CRS), USA, discusses examples of successful small farms, which are better at producing, earning and adapting to change than their neighbours are. The authors contend that these resilient farms can be used as models for rural development.

Agricultural extension services are central to positive change in farmers’ livelihoods.  Successful extension programmes promote strong partnerships between farmers and extension workers. Farmers know their environments in a way that extension workers cannot. Farmers know what farming methods and systems work well in their climates, soils and cultures. Equally, extension workers know about new technologies and markets, information that farmers do not have. Extension workers know which products will satisfy urban markets and which financial services are most suitable for family farms.

• The best extension workers communicate with farmers to prioritise locally appropriate programmes and promote activities that yield the greatest benefits for the least labour and cost.
• Extension workers create a ‘ripple effect’ by providing information about market trends and spreading new technologies. 
• Farmers create a ‘ripple effect’, which continues the spread of information, by sharing their own innovations with extension workers and other farmers.

The most effective technical advice is based on previous success, building on proven practices. Testing innovations locally and finding ways to share the risk of innovation are vital to ensuring that family farms benefit from agricultural extension.

The best extension workers look for activities that combine three goals – short-term gains, long-term benefits and conservation of natural resources. Immediate benefits gain the support and trust of farmers. Balancing production with conservation and rehabilitating natural resources protects benefits for future generations. Extension activities should focus at least half of their efforts in any community on long-term goals and objectives. If extension workers focus solely on solving immediate, short-term problems and production issues, there is a danger that their interventions will not be sustainable.

Lessons from the CRS programmes suggest that:

• The more complex a small farm is, the more stable and resilient it is likely to be. Extension workers need to view farms as diverse systems, with farmers managing many processes.
• Successful extension workers complement traditional farming methods with appropriate modern technology, rather than trying to replace methods that are no longer effective.
• Understanding and sharing the risks involved in changing agricultural practices is essential to supporting family farms. There are many ways of doing this, including technical support, market studies and cost-benefit analysis.
• Family farms must be involved in extension research. Farmers will supplement the  messages of extension workers with practical knowledge of what works locally. The contributions of both groups diminish risks in adopting new technologies and modifying farming practices.

Source(s):
‘The Ripple Effect: agricultural extension services’, chapter six in ‘The Resilient Family Farm: supporting agricultural development and rural economic growth’, by G. Burpee and K. Wilson, ITDG Publishing, 2004

Funded by: Catholic Relief Services and USAID

id21 Research Highlight: 20 May 2005

Further Information:
Gaye Burpee
Catholic Relief Services
209 W. Fayette St.
Baltimore
Maryland
21201
USA

Tel: +1 410 951 7239
Fax: +1 410 234 3182
Contact the contributor: gburpee@catholicrelief.org

Catholic Relief Services, USA

Other related links:
'Getting to market: support for smallholder farmers'

'Changing agricultural support services to improve food security'

'Bringing agricultural extension into action against HIV/AIDS in Africa'

'Communicating information for rural development'

'How social networks enable new agricultural developments in rural China'

'Supporting local knowledge and protecting resources'