Decentralizing the Farmer-to-Farmer extension approach to the local level
| Published date | 01 April 2014 |
| Pages | 66-77 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/WJSTSD-08-2013-0028 |
| Date | 01 April 2014 |
| Author | Shiva Kumar Shrestha |
| Subject Matter | Public policy & environmental management,Environmental technology & innovation |
Decentralizing the
Farmer-to-Farmer extension
approach to the local level
Shiva Kumar Shrestha
Sustainable Soil Management Programme, Lalitpur, Nepal
Abstract
Purpose – As the government extension services are less effective in reaching the remote areas and
mid-hills of Nepal, the purpose of this paper is to examine the effectiveness of community-based
management in technology transfer.
Design/methodology/approach – The Farmer-to-Farmer (FtF) extension approach as a better
alternative to government extension services will be adopted in the research.
Findings – The FtF approach is a cost effective and sustainable service delivery mechanism for
extending basic and innovative technologies to rural farmers, especially in remote areas. Even
marginalized, poor and disadvantaged groups, often excluded from mainstream assistance, have
better access to extension services disseminated through the FtF approach. The agriculture
committees established at the Village Development Committee (VDC) level are much entrusted by the
people as they facilitates their participation in the planning-to-implementation processes related to
local agriculture development programmes. Consequently, there is much local support for the
establishment of the local committees and the FtF approach. Several challenges remain however, one
being the committee members’ management capacity.
Originality/value – Decentralizing the FtF extension approach to the local level, the VDCs.
Keywords Sustainability, Sustainable development
Paper type Research paper
Background
Decentralized extension services have long been a feature of federal countries. Many
developing countries including Nepal are now decentralizing extension in the
expectation that the service will be closer to the client, and thus more relevant (Smith,
1997). Such extension systems have shown evidence of increased resource mobilization
and reduced strain on central finance, greater accountability and more responsive
administration (Bird, 1994).
The Nepalese context
Decentralizing extension is very important in Nepal as agricu lture is the mainstay
of the Nepalese economy – it contributes about 36 per cent of the national GDP and
employs over 66 per cent of the economically active population. The majority of the
rural population, over 83 per cent, resides in rural areas relying on agriculture and
agriculture-related enterprises for their economic progress and food secu rity (Ministry
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/2042-5945.htm
WorldJour nal of Science, Technology
and Sustainable Development
Vol. 11 No. 1, 2014
pp. 66-77
rEmeraldGroup Publishing Limited
2042-5945
DOI 10.1108/W JSTSD-08-2013-0028
The author is grateful to the SSMP team, and to HELVETASNepal and SDC for suppo rt towards
the participation in the conference. The author is indebted to the World Association for
Sustainable Development (WASD) for selecting the paper and for giving the author an
opportunity to participate in the conference. Special thanks to Mr Richard Allen, International
Programme Officer SSMP and Ms Rudriksha Rai Parajuli, Team Leader of SSMP, for their
cooperation and assistance.
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WJSTSD
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