Webinar: Strengthening Private Sector Extension and Advisory Services
Event Information
Effective agricultural extension and advisory services are widely recognized as essential for any program to transform agricultural systems and address global social and economic development objectives. The idea of extension as solely the purview of government extension agencies is history. Both public and private organizations are active in extension and advisory services, which constitute an integral part of the agricultural innovation system. Major extension providers include public agencies, agribusinesses (input suppliers, product buyers, financial agencies), producer organizations, nongovernmental organizations, civil society interest groups, mass media, and private farm advisors. Private extension providers include both for-profit and non-profit entities. The capacity of these providers and how well they are linked, motivated, and coordinated largely determine how well needs of rural producers are served.
In this webinar, the Feed the Future Developing Local Extension Capacity (DLEC) Project will present results of a portfolio review exploring recent experience and potential for expanding private sector agricultural extension and advisory services to improve knowledge and information support for the agricultural sector. The review included literature relevant to private sector extension and the extension activities of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in 28 countries. The webinar speakers will give recommendations for expanding private sector agricultural extension and advisory services through future USAID projects and other investments.
The webinar will also cover two cases of private sector extension, one in Senegal and one in Uganda. There will be time for questions and answers.
Speakers
Kristin Davis
Senior Research Fellow
International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)
Kristin Davis is a Senior Research Fellow with the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) where she’s worked since 2004. Kristin has a PhD in international agricultural extension with a minor in farming systems from the University of Florida. Her research involves research and capacity strengthening on agricultural extension, education, and agricultural innovation systems. She currently is Project Co-Director for the USAID-funded project Feed the Future Developing Local Extension Capacity (DLEC).
Jean-Michel Voisard
Senior Market Systems Advisor
RTI International
Jean-Michel Voisard is Senior Market Systems Advisor at RTI International, and is currently based in Dakar, Senegal. For over 20 years, he has worked throughout West Africa to link private sector and banks with grassroots rural organizations to build sustainable market systems that benefit small farmers. As COP and technical advisor to the recently completed Feed the Future Senegal Naatal Mbay project implemented by RTI, he oversaw the design and roll-out of approach that empowered 123 cereal networks, grouping more than150,000 farmers, to self-manage the delivery of extension and value chain services such as trainings and extension, grouped input procurement and financing, crop insurance, harvest services, quality control, climate information and sales contract management.
Robert Anyang
Agriculture and Food Security Advisor
Chemonics International Inc.
Robert Anyang is an agricultural value chain improvement and marketing expert with 23 years of experience applying the facilitative approach to market systems and value chain development. Robert is currently the agriculture and food security adviser for Eastern and Southern Africa region Chemonics International. Previously, Robert was the chief of party of the USAID Feed the Future Uganda Commodity Production and Marketing Activity which developed an efficient supply chain model that delivers production and marketing services which include private sector embedded extension services for up to 460,000 farmers while improving investment and trade. This model is now nationally adopted in 128 districts in Uganda by the Government in partnership with public private community partnership (PPCP). Robert had previously led activities to deploy digital technologies, to provide improved extension services, market information, and financial services. Robert previously worked for the Investment in Developing Export Agriculture project, the Agricultural Productivity Enhancement Program, and various private-sector firms. Hailing from Nigeria, Robert holds degrees in agronomy, rural development, crop production, and horticulture from Kenyatta University, the Federal University of Technology, and Lagos State Polytechnic.
Related Resources
Webinar Recording
Webinar Presentation Slides
Presentation Audio Transcript
Chat Transcripts
Webinar Presentation Audio
Senegal: In-depth Assessment of Extension and Advisory Services
Strengthening Private Sector Extension and Advisory Services Portfolio Review Full Report
Strengthening Private Sector Extension and Advisory Services – Portfolio Review Executive Summary
Youth in Extension and Advisory Services: Rwanda
DLEC Factsheet
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