Summary : At the start of 2020, COVID-19 broke out with huge consequences for resilience of smallholder farmers and other vulnerable groups dependent on agriculture. Extension and advisory services can help strengthen resilience of their clientele by increasing their access to both tangible (e.g., seed, fertilizer) and intangible (e.g., information, advice) resources. This presentation looks back at previous crises such as Avian influenza and HIV/AIDS to learn how extension dealt with these crises and helped strengthen resilience of their clientele to deal with the emergencies. The presentation examines recent experiences how extension innovated during COVID. It provides recommendations to extension program implementers who serve smallholder farmers on how best to support smallholders and on innovative ways to reach them during crises.
Presenter : Kristen Davis
Senior Research Fellow in the Development Strategy and Governance Division, IFPRI / CGIAR