Résumés d'ECHO

Implication des agriculteurs dans la vulgarisation agricole - 05/08/2015

Les bonnes intentions et les solutions viables auront peu d'impact à moins que nous nous engagions avec les agriculteurs de manière à ce qu’ils comprennent. Les agriculteurs mettent beaucoup de confiance en ce qu'ils apprennent de l'expérience d’autres agriculteurs, et ils sont plus susceptibles de faire confiance à ce qu'ils voient par rapport à ce qu'ils entendent. L’interaction avec les pairs (Fig. 1) aide aussi les agriculteurs à apprendre de même qu’à partager  les uns avec les autres.

Ce document, élaboré à partir de trois fiches d’information et de conseil de MEAS (Farmer Meetings, [Rencontres d’Agriculteurs] Test Strips for On-Farm Demonstrations, [Bandelettes de Test pour des Démonstrations dans le Champ] et The Farm Walk Farm-Led Demonstrations [Démonstrations de Promenade Agricole Dirigées par des Agriculteurs]), traite de méthodes pratiques de vulgarisation agricole que les agents de développement peuvent utiliser pour travailler plus efficacement avec les agriculteurs et favoriser le genre d'interaction entre agriculteur et agriculteur qui conduit à un changement positif.

Analyzing and Supporting Gender Responsive Value Chains - 05/08/2015

The complexity of the global food system creates a diverse group of actors ranging from smallholders to large corporations involved in the agriculture sector. Each of the many actors in an agriculture value chain has different needs, objectives, strengths and weaknesses.  With women accounting for 43% of the agriculture workforce in developing countries, there is a need to ensure their ability to access and participate in agricultural markets. 

Gaining a deeper understanding of value chains, with special attention to gender roles, is an important step in reducing poverty and improving livelihoods for both women and men.  Drawn from the MEAS Technical Note, Applying Gender-Responsive Value-Chain Analysis in EAS, this document explains the concept of a value chain, covers the factors that limit women from participating in value chains, discusses the types of upgrades that can be made in value chains and  outlines steps to conducting a gender responsive value chain analysis.  Recommendations are also listed for improving gender equality in value chain extension.

Utilisation effective des ateliers dans la vulgarisation agricole - 14/07/2015

Les ateliers sont un outil courant et efficace que les agents de vulgarisation peuvent utiliser pour enseigner de nouvelles compétences à des groupes d'agriculteurs. Ce document, extrait de la Note Technique de l'USAID/MEAS sur Presenting Workshops to Adults (L’animation d'Ateliers pour Adultes), explique comment le cadre d’un atelier diffère de celui d'une classe ou d’un enseignement, et la meilleure façon de planifier et d'organiser des ateliers pour transférer efficacement les connaissances et les compétences nécessaires aux agriculteurs.

Lessons from Small Farm Resource Centers - 13/07/2015

Based on a MEAS paper entitled, The Current and Future Roles of Small Farm Resource Centers in Extension and Advisory Services: Synthesis Report from Seven Case Studies in Southeast Asia, this document highlights key take-a-ways of an assessment by ECHO of seven SFRCs in Southeast Asia. Through questionnaires, surveys, site visits and various other means, data were collected from December 2012 to March 2013 in order to “illustrate and classify the concept of the SFRC, evaluate their outreach efficacy, and provide recommendations to amplify their extension services.”  In summarizing key findings of this assessment, this paper reviews the models of extension and advisory services used at SFRCs, the main challenges and limitations of SFRCs, and key lessons learned to help in starting and running an effective SFRC.

Teaching in Field Settings - 03/06/2015

Field-based teaching provides first-hand experience about the subject matter being discussed. An on-site encounter allows farmers to observe innovations in practice, discuss them, and ask questions. Farmers exposed to new ideas will be much more likely to understand and apply the information if they can actually see how the various practices have been implemented in the field.  By seeing a new crop variety or production technique with their own eyes, they are also better equipped to adapt a particular practice to suit their own needs and conditions. 

Instruction during a field visit should be based around defined educational objectives. The experience should be designed to help participants make connections between the field-based instruction event and concepts they are learning through more classroom-oriented instruction. Science education research has shown that well-planned field experiences significantly increase the level of factual knowledge and conceptual understanding gained by participants.  This document addresses three stages of creating successful instruction in field settings. It is drawn from the MEAS Technical Note on Teaching in Field Settings and Laboratories.

Effective Use of Lecture in Agriculture Extension - 29/05/2015

The lecture is one of the oldest and most widely used methods of teaching. In agriculture extension, field agents often use lectures as a method to share information with farmers. However, many lecturers are ineffective because they do not properly prepare and structure their presentations. Drawn from the MEAS Technical Note, Effective Lecture and Discussion Techniques, this document examines the strengths and weakness of using lectures and explores what makes them effective.

Principles of Teaching and Knowledge Transfer - 28/05/2015

Most extension workers serving small-scale farmers in developing countries have been equipped with at least some level of agriculture-related training and field experience. Many, however, lack training in how to teach and facilitate learning, a skill that is equally important as technical know-how in helping farming communities to adopt new agriculture methods and technologies.

This document, drawn from the MEAS Technical Note on Principles of Teaching and Learning, focuses on various principles and teacher behaviors that promote learning. These concepts can help extension workers and trainers to more effectively advise and instruct the farmers they serve.

Méthodes et outils participatifs dans le développement communautaire - 19/05/2015

Une approche d'apprentissage participatif, appliquée à chaque étape d'un projet de développement communautaire, est cruciale pour atteindre le niveau de participation des parties prenantes nécessaire pour un changement durable et positif. L'utilisation de méthodes d'enquête et de planification participatives dans le processus de développement encourage l'appropriation communautaire des projets, permet à l'information de circuler entre la communauté (Fig. 1) et l'organisation de développement, et renforce la responsabilité entre l'organisation et la  communauté. Les méthodes et les outils participatifs suivants, qui peuvent être utilisées pour encourager la participation des membres de la communauté dans les activités du programme, sont tirés des documents de MEAS sur Participatory Methods and Tools for Extension (Les Méthodes et Outils de Vulgarisation Participative).

Information and Communication Technology Options for Agriculture Extension in Developing Countries - 13/05/2015

As extension programs must increasingly accomplish more with less, information and communication technology (ICT) can be utilized to ensure that vital information continues to reach rural agriculture communities in developing countries. This document, drawn from MEAS / USAID Brief # 1: Options and Strategies for Information and Communication Technologies within Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services, explains various ICT tools and the role they can play in extension.

Égalité de genre dans la vulgarisation agricole - 01/05/2015

Cet article est tiré de la Note d’Information n ° 2 de MEAS, intitulé Reducing the Gender Gap in Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services: How to Find the Best Fit for Men and Women Farmers (Réduire l'écart entre les sexes dans les services de vulgarisation agricole et de conseil : Comment trouver le meilleur ajustement pour les hommes et les femmes agriculteurs). Bon nombre des sujets et des leçons liées au genre abordés dans la Note d’Information de MEAS s’appliquent également au transfert des connaissances et des ressources que les agents de développement agricole fournissent dans leurs projets. Ce document traitera du cas de l'égalité des sexes dans la vulgarisation de l'agriculture, et examinera plusieurs obstacles liés au genre et comment ceux-ci peuvent être surmontés.