"The process of knowledge brokering in the agricultural sector, where it is generally called agricultural extension, has been studied since the 1950s. While agricultural extension initially employed research push models, it gradually moved towards research pull and collaborative research models. The
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current agricultural innovation systems perspective goes beyond seeing research as the main input to change and innovation, and recognises that innovation emerges from the complex interactions among multiple actors and is about fostering combined technical, social and institutional change. As a result of adopting this innovation systems perspective, extension is refocusing to go beyond enhancing research uptake, and engaging in systemic facilitation or what has been called ‘innovation brokering’. Innovation brokering is about performing several linkage building and facilitation activities in innovation systems, creating an enabling context for effective policy formulation and implementation, development and innovation. Conclusions are that an innovation systems perspective also has relevance for sectors other than agriculture, which implies that in these sectors knowledge brokering as enhancing research uptake and use should be complemented with broader innovation brokering activities." (Abstract)
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"This article outlines the potential mechanisms through which ICT could facilitate agricultural adoption and the provision of extension services in developing countries. It then reviews existing programs using ICT for agriculture, categorized by the mechanism (voice, text, internet and mobile money
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transfers) and the type of services provided. Finally, we identify potential constraints to such programs in terms of design and implementation, and conclude with some recommendations for implementing field-based research on the impact of these programs on farmers’ knowledge, technological adoption and welfare." (Abstract)
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"Este es un libro que abarca diferentes enfoques, modalidades y metodologías de extensión de ayer, de hoy, con visión de futuro. Hace revivir la teoría de difusión de innovaciones y el proceso de innovación-decisión. Además, hace mención a metodologías y medios tradicionales de extensión
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como visitas a finca, reuniones grupales, giras, días de campo, radio y televisión así como a las modernas tecnologías de la información y la comunicación (TICs). En la parte final del libro y en sus anexos, se da atención especial a la evaluación económica y social de sistemas de Extensión Rural, con énfasis especial en el Proyecto “Manejo Sostenible de Recursos Naturales”, que ejecuta el Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería del Paraguay con la Cooperación Técnica y Financiera de la República Federal de Alemania." (Presentación, página 13)
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"Cette publication fait le récit de l’expérience unique des clubs d’écoute communautaires mis en place au Niger et en République démocratique du Congo par la FAO-Dimitra et ses partenaires. Mécanismes d’information et de communication centrés sur l’action, ces clubs ont remporté un s
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uccès tel que Dimitra a souhaité partager l’expérience. Le premier chapitre présente de façon succincte les clubs d’écoute communautaires, leur finalité, leur fonctionnement interne et les résultats obtenus. Le deuxième chapitre inscrit son récit au plus proche des initiatives des communautés, en donnant la parole aux protagonistes et en racontant la création des clubs d’écoute dans les deux pays. Le troisième chapitre fournit des orientations plus pratiques sur les étapes de création des clubs d’écoute communautaires." (Dos de couverture)
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"O objetivo deste estudo é analisar o rádio comunitário como estratégia de comunicação da Extensão Pesqueira para o Desenvolvimento Local em comunidades cuja pesca é a principal atividade econômica, a exemplo da Ilha de Deus, no Recife, Pernambuco. A análise parte da recepção da Rádio C
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omunitária Boca da Ilha pelos moradores da Ilha de Deus no intuito de compreender as apropriações que pescadores e pescadoras fazem da emissora local e o sentido que essa população dá às mensagens no seu cotidiano observando as possibilidades do uso do rádio comunitário como parceiro em projetos de Extensão Pesqueira." (Resumo)
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"This publication is particularly relevant for radio stations intending to establish listeners' clubs. It presents the experience of community listeners' clubs established in the mid-2000s in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Niger by the FAO and its partners, and the results that these initiativ
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es produced. It shows that listeners' clubs proved to be an effective means for isolated rural communities to access information and engage in participatory communication. The clubs especially enabled women to assume a pro-active role in the development of their community and to receive recognition for doing so. The last chapter of the publication presents guidelines for creating and maintaining community listeners' clubs, and the main success factors to be considered." (CAMECO Update 1-2012)
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"The study found evidence that mobiles are being used in ways which contribute to productivity enhancement. However, to leverage the full potential of information dissemination enabled by mobile telephony will require significant improvements in supporting infrastructure and capacity building amongs
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t farmers to enable them to use the information they access effectively. As mobile penetration continues to increase among farming communities and information services continue to adapt and proliferate, the scope exists for a much greater rural productivity impact in the future." (Abstract)
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"The report draws on the experiences of projects using mobile phone-based information and communication technologies (ICT) applications in a number of situations, including mobile monitoring and evaluation, m-banking, community development, literacy, anti-corruption, agricultural extension and agric
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ultural value chain information and access." (Introduction)
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"This paper discusses the effectiveness of farm radio as a tool for enhancing access to agricultural extension services by small scale farmers in Malawi. It outlines the current agricultural extension policies, methodologies and the role that radio can play in improving food security and communicati
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on for rural farmers. The study further explores the challenges faced by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in utilizing radio, while also addressing opportunities for improvement and recommending strategies for enhancing farm radio initiatives." (www.academia.edu)
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"Africa Rice Center (WARDA) facilitated the development and translation of 11 rice videos. From 2005 to 2009, WARDA partners translated them into more than 30 African languages. Open-air video presentations enhanced learning, experimentation, confidence, trust, and group cohesion among rural people.
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The videos strengthened capacities of more than 500 organisations and hundreds of thousands of farmers. WARDA's integrated rural learning approach also helped women to access new markets and credit. Learning videos allow for unsupervised learning; unleash local creativity and experimentation; facilitate institutional innovations; and improve social inclusion of the poor, youth, and women." (Abstract)
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"The book was written mainly to inform rural development professionals, practitioners and decision-makers in a variety of organisations – from NGOs and farmer associations to government departments and research and educational institutions – about the diverse uses of video in development. Specif
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ically, it seeks to give decision-makers greater insight into the subject in order to support decisions on the strategic use of video in development. As such, it draws extensively on practical experiences to illustrate the potential of this powerful communication tool for development." (Introduction, page 1)
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"In October 2009, after almost 23 years of collaboration, Agromisa and CTA co-hosted the seminar “The Future of the Agrodok series”. The Agrodok series is a collection of practical handbooks that have been published by Agromisa since the early seventies of the last century and from 2005 copublis
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hed with CTA. These Agrodok books treat issues of critical importance for small-scale sustainable agriculture. During the seminar participants discussed several strategies to ensure the comprehensive development of the series and the effective publication and distribution of the Agrodok handbook. Participants included experienced professionals involved in development communication and publishing in Africa and Europe. Discussion focused around content generation, editorial input, handbook design and the use of web2.0 tools to facilitate collaboration between authors and resource persons." (Foreword)
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"This is a practical and well structured manual aiming to use self-evaluation for organisational learning. The book consists of four parts. "The evaluation context" introduces the role of monitoring, evaluation and impact assessment as part of the project cycle logic. "The evaluation process" descri
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bes steps to be taken in designing and implementing an evaluation. The third part, "evaluation tools", gives a practical insight to major evaluation methods like SWOT analysis, questionnaires (and their design), focus groups or case studies. The fourth and main part provides evaluation guidelines for training courses, newsletters, websites, small libraries and resource centres, online communities, rural radios, databases and selective dissemination of information services." (CAMECO Update 1-2011)
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