When VVOB suggested the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) to organize a national extension workshop, DAE was immediately enthusiastic and willing to take the lead. Indeed, in the Action plan 2011 of the MAFF (Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries) one of the policy measures is ‘to review the framework for agricultural extension services’ and a national extension workshop would be able to initiate this measure. The aim would be to review the progress in extension, discuss improvement and give opportunity to all extension actors to present results and challenges. To invigorate the capacity and visibility of the workshop, DAE and VVOB requested the cooperation of CAVAC, the well-known Australian funded value chain programme.
On 20 and 21 December 2011, the workshop took place with participation of 150 extension actors and chaired by H.E. It Nody, Under Secretary of State of MAFF and H.E. So Khan Rithykun, the Director General of the General Directorate of Agriculture (GDA). The participants represented a wide range of sectors and levels: from model farmers and NGO’s to district, provincial and national government partners and private companies.
A number of organizations and private companies presented their work. Very interesting is the market-based approach of IDE who provides input suppliers with technical skills and quality materials. The suppliers combine the selling of quality inputs with advice on effective and innovative farming techniques which makes the farmers benefit twice. Among the private sector a media production house explained how they use TV and video to present difficulties and solutions in farming. It seems an effective medium to reach farmers.
During the group works, participants discussed methods to make agricultural extension more efficient and effective. Some suggestions for improvement were selecting key farmers to work as farming promoters, ensuring uniformity in the technical information provided to farmers and developing an improved resource mobilization strategy. Besides this, we compiled a list of information needs and communication tools and listed down the most efficient and effective extension methods and tools.
DAE received credits for their excellent management. By selecting and contacting the right organizations, professionally leading the working groups and compiling and analyzing the findings, the workshop turned out to be a success. Besides this, the active involvement of so many different actors made us conclude that most partners were willing to discuss changes and improvements in agricultural extension.
During the whole workshop, VVOB was one of the key players who, besides presenting its results and recommendations and handing out its manuals, was also the one to open and close the workshop together with H.E. So Khan Rithykun and CAVAC.
At the moment, July 2012, we know that there will be two successors building on ImAgE’s results. FAO and IFAD developed ‘PADEE’ (Project for Agricultural Development and Economic Empowerment) which will be coordinated and implemented by MAFF starting from August 2012. ACIAR (Australian Center for Agricultural Research) has provided the district offices of agriculture in Kandal province with technical information and appointed a communication officer who is responsible for disseminating the material.
Besides this, DAE is since May 2012 cooperating with a consultant to revise the framework of agricultural extension. Half a year after the workshop took place, we are happy to report about some concrete results.
