Feed the Future Publications Strengthening Partnerships and Professionalization in Agricultural Extension in Guinea

Seven main types of EAS providers were identified, including one public sector actor (ANPROCA) and six private sector actors: producer organizations (PO), nongovernmental organizations (NGO), agrodealers, farmer-trainers, market women and consultancy firms). Six main areas of services corresponding to the diversity of demands were identified: (i) access to knowledge and information; (ii) facilitation, brokering and networking; (iii) capacity development; (iv) organizational development; (v) management decision-making support related to agribusiness; and (vi) expertise on specific or emerging themes. The rate of coverage of these service areas by the various providers was evaluated. None of the providers has the capacity to cover all six areas of service. Despite increasing efforts, the services offered are not yet fully demand-driven and don’t meet the diversity of the demand. ANPROCA has the most diversified service, and appears to be the only structure that could potentially cover all of the areas if adequate financial and human resources were available. The other providers seem to have more or less specific niches of intervention. Farmer-trainers are mostly involved in the dissemination of good agricultural practices. Consultancy firms are specialized in capacity development, expertise provision on agribusiness development and, creation and management of agricultural enterprises. PO are more focused on organizational development, facilitation of processes and interactions with other actors. Market women services consist mainly in the provision of updated market information (prices, demand trends, consumers preferences) and the dissemination of information packaging and storage of agricultural products.