The prospects and limitations of private extension delivery

AgREN will host an e-mail discussion on the subject of private extension delivery. We would like to invite you to participate in this discussion, March 10-21, 2003.

As traditional public agricultural extension comes under increasing pressure, and there is agreement that the funding and the delivery of extension are separate issues, the theme of private extension delivery is gaining increasing prominence.

The e-mail discussion will seek to (a) understand the range of activities that are included in the area of private extension delivery, (b) explore how efforts at private extension may expand the diversity of extension providers, (c) describe the degree to which such efforts provide additional choice and empowerment to farmers, and (d) identify the limitations and drawbacks of private extension.

Several types of activity can be considered as private extension.

• It can include governments or donors contracting private individuals or agencies to provide a service, but we are particularly interested in the development of markets for such services.
• The funds for such services can be completely external, but we are particularly interested in cases where the user (the farmer) has some discretion or choice regarding the type of service and/or the type of provider.
• The funds may also be partly or wholly provided by farmers, who may contract private or public entities for extension services.

If you would like to participate in a review and discussion of these types of private extension activities, please join us in March. To register for the e-mail discussion group, send an e-mail to majordomo@rimisp.ch

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We look forward to your participation.

Best wishes,
Rob Tripp
Rob Chapman
AgREN

© Neuchâtel Group - 2002, c/o Swiss Center for Agricultural Extension and Rural Development (LBL),
Dept. for International Cooperation, Eschikon 28, 8315 Lindau, Suisse
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