Resúmenes de ECHO

Participación de Agricultores en Extensión de Agricultura - 5/8/2015

Buenas intenciones y soluciones viables tendrán poco impacto si no nos conectamos con agricultores de maneras significantes para ellos. Los agricultores ponen confianza en lo que aprenden de las experiencias de otros agricultores, y son más dispuestos a confiar en lo que ven que en lo que escuchan.  Interacciones con sus colegas (Fig. 1) también ayudan a los agricultores aprender de y compartir con otros agricultores.

Este documento, sacado de tres Hojas de Pistas y Hechos de MEAS (Farmer Meetings [Reuniones de Agricultores], Test Strips for On-Farm Demonstrations [Franjas de Ensayo para Demostraciones En-Finca], y The Farm Walk Farm-Led Demonstrations [La Caminata en Finca, Demostraciones Manejadas por el Agricultor]), discute métodos prácticos de extensión de agricultura que trabajadores de desarrollo pueden utilizar para conectarse más eficazmente con agricultores y fomentar el tipo de interacciones agricultor-a-agricultor que lleva a cambios positivos.

Analyzing and Supporting Gender Responsive Value Chains - 5/8/2015

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.

El Uso Eficaz de Talleres en Extensión de Agricultura - 14/7/2015

Los talleres son una herramienta eficaz y de uso frecuente que trabajadores de extensión pueden usar para enseñar nuevas habilidades a grupos de agricultores. Este documento, sacado de la Nota Técnica de USAID/MEAS con título Presenting Workshops to Adults (Presentando Talleres para Adultos), explica como el ambiente de un taller es diferente de un ambiente de aula, y cómo mejora planificar y dirigir talleres para transferir conocimientos y habilidades eficazmente a agricultores.

Lessons from Small Farm Resource Centers - 13/7/2015

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 - 3/6/2015

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 - 29/5/2015

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 - 28/5/2015

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.

Métodos y Herramientas Participativos en Desarrollo Comunitario - 19/5/2015

Un enfoque de aprendizaje participativo, aplicado en cada etapa de un proyecto de desarrollo comunitario, es crucial para llegar al nivel de participación necesaria de  interesados para lograr cambios duraderos y positivos. El uso de métodos participativos de encuestas y planificación en el proceso de desarrollo motiva que la comunidad se adueñe de los proyectos, permite flujo de información entre la comunidad y la organización de desarrollo, y mejora la confianza entre la organización y la comunidad. Los métodos y herramientas participativos siguientes, que pueden ser utilizados para motivar participación de los miembros de la comunidad en las actividades de un programa, se sacan de documentos de MEAS de Participatory Methods and Tools for Extension.

Information and Communication Technology Options for Agriculture Extension in Developing Countries - 13/5/2015

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.

Igualdad de Género en Extensión de Agricultura - 1/5/2015

Este articulo extrae del Breve #2 de MEAS Reducing the Gender Gap in Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services: How to Find the Best Fit for Men and Women Farmers (Reduciendo la Brecha entre los Sexos en Servicios de Extensión de Agricultura y Consejeros: Como Encontrar el Mejor Servicio para Agricultores Masculinos y Femeninos).  Muchos de los temas y lecciones relacionados con género que se tratan en el Breve de MEAS también se pueden aplicar a la transferencia de conocimientos y recursos que proveen los trabajadores de desarrollo de agricultura en sus proyectos. Este documento discutirá el caso para igualdad de géneros en la extensión de agricultura, y examinará varias barreras relacionadas con género y cómo vencerlas.