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FSN Forum

DISCUSSION No. 141   •   FSN Forum digest No. 1302

What role can agricultural extension and advisory services play in realizing gender equality and improved nutrition?

until 09 July 2017

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Dear Members,

Please find below the summaries of the latest contributions to the online discussion What role can agricultural extension and advisory services play in realizing gender equality and improved nutrition?

Participants raise a number of challenges related to agricultural extension and advisory services (AEAS), such as inadequate practical means and the lack of linkages between the different actors involved in AEAS.

Others are sharing specific ideas on how AEAS could integrate gender and nutrition, with some of the participants referring to practical experiences they have in this regard.

To see all comments received so far and to read the full introduction to the topic, please refer to the FSN Forum webpage in English, French or Spanish.

We look forward to keep receiving your contributions!

Your FSN Forum team

CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED

iconGeorges Bazongo, Tree Aid, Burkina Faso

Georges discusses all the questions raised in the discussion topic. For instance, he argues that in Africa, the restructuring of extension systems has entailed a reduction in (skilled) personnel and logistical and financial means. Georges also discusses a project in which he was engaged, which focused on providing women with improved soya and cowpea seeds and training, and to improve their access to productive land. Awareness raising was carried out among men in order to make them aware of the benefits of pulses for the soil and in terms of nutrition, and of the importance of income diversification. The project has led to significant improvements in household food diversity.  

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iconParikshit SampatRam, Pranam Kisan, India

Parikshit shares a number of steps that should be taken in relation to AEAS in order to promote nutrition and gender equality, including: 1) conducting awareness campaigns on healthy lifestyles and food requirements, with regular follow-ups and assistance; 2) implementing family training programs on sustainable livelihoods, including skill development and integrated business management, and 3) carrying out practical group assignments to improve work output, which implies dividing tasks among the different household members as appropriate.

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iconMahesh Chander, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, India

Mahesh refers to an example in India, where women themselves took the lead in becoming participants in courses for field veterinarians. He stresses that AEAS personnel may be incentivized for encouraging women to participate in trainings, and that female extension agents could be better suited to engage women farmers. Mahesh refers to his experiences which show that the latter often have questions that go beyond farm issues, and which concern for instance health and children’s education; often these women do not have any other channel to seek answers to their queries.

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iconJC Wandemberg, Sustainable Systems International, India

JC Wandemberg stresses that AEAS should play a major role in realizing gender equality and improving nutrition through a participative, democratic organizational structure conducive to creating an environment of symmetrical dependence where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

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iconTakele Teshome, ASDA, Ethiopia

Takele points out that one of the critical challenges related to AEAS concerns the poor linkages between academia and research institutions, AEAS and farmers. Consequently, the research agenda is not demand-driven, the priorities of women are rarely reflected, and feedback from the end-users regarding technology adoption and refinement is limited. Strengthening these linkages with the involvement of the private sector is crucial in order to provide women with access to information and new technologies.

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iconDick Tinsley, Colorado State University, USA

Dick raises two issues related to AEAS. Firstly, he expresses concerns with regard to expanding AEAS, as governments in developing countries mostly do not have the financial means to realize this. Notably, while the government may employ extension agents, these will have a low salary and little support to implement programs, and thus effectively reach only a small percent of the intended beneficiaries. Secondly, Dick stresses that although the diets that are being promoted may be highly desirable, it is questionable whether the people targeted can afford them and whether they have the energy needed to produce the foods suggested.

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iconKafui Agbe, Young Professionals for Agricultural Development, Ghana

According to Kafui, one of the key constraints hindering the empowerment of youth engaged in AEAS is the lack of logistics; in particular, adequate means of transport are needed to access communities. Furthermore, Kafui highlights that capacity building targeting these youth is needed regarding knowledge on indigenous nutrient-rich plants; the Ghanaian government has for instance already focused on this aspect. In addition, attention needs to be paid to developing innovative ways to address gender issues.

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iconGulzada Kudaiberdieva, Bio Service, Kyrgyzstan

Gulzada stresses that the countries in Central Asia and the South Caucasus have a huge potential to provide food for the population due to favorable natural and climatic conditions. However, in the context of AEAS, it is necessary to take into account gender aspects, and the technologies and practices it offers should be equally accessible to men and women. For integrating gender and nutrition aspects in rural advisory services, cooperation between organizations, countries and regions is crucial. In this regard, the GFRAS Working Group on Nutrition could play the role of facilitator and coordinator. In addition, Gulzada shares a link to a platform providing information on the project “Nutrition in Mountain Agro-ecosystems” launched by IFOAM: https://maan.ifoam.bio.

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