evaluating extension reforms implications for nigeria

Wednesday, April 12, 2023

Evaluating Extension Reforms – Implications for Nigeria

Dr. Suresh BabuInternational Food Policy Research Institute, Washington D.C

July 16, 2013

INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Introduction

• How do we inform policy makers about the evidence on the best policy path they can take to reform agricultural extension in their country?

• How can we do this using extension policies?• Focused on Seed and Fertilizer policies• Country level status; description of the Extension

system, issues, constraints and challenges identified

• Evaluation of the extension system performance


What issues addressed?

• Common issues to all countries – how to increase the efficiency, effectiveness, sustainability of the extension systems

• What factors contribute to the improved efficiency of the extension systems?

• What factors contribute the effectiveness of the extension systems?

• What are the institutional innovations observed in the current extension system?

• What opportunities exists to improve the system efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability?


What issues addressed so far?

• What factors improve the structure, conduct and performance of the extension systems?

• What are the current policies that make the delivery system inefficient, ineffective and unsustainable?

• What policy processes are needed to achieve the expected policy outcomes?

• What are the knowledge gaps?


What is the emerging Analytical Framework?

Broad political, macroeconomic framework for

economic growth objectives

Nature of the country context; geography, size of agricultural

economy, agricultural transformation goals

Agro ecology cropping patterns, natural resource

constraints,

Country Specific extension program

Interventions

Policy, institutional and market

interventions needed to increase

productivity and sustainability

Reforms needed for Increase the

Technology change

Analysis of extension program interventions

Analysis of Changes at the farm, market

and institutional levels

Analysis of extension programs for Farm

level impact


Public sector MAIN extension arm in India(Using India as an example because it is similar to Nigeria)

State Department of Agriculture• Present in all states, up to Block, Panchayat • Staff numbers low; weak research link; top-down, linear• Perform non-extension duties & implement schemes

ICAR – Krishi Vigyan Kendra• Present in all districts, multi-disciplinary team

• Linear; staff low; partnerships/linkage rare; local coverage

ICAR –State Agricultural University• Lab to land, frontline extension in few adopted villages or near

location = farmer reach limited• Info rarely reflects local needs = centralised agendas• Weak partnerships and links in ICAR and also with Dept of Ag


Where do Indian farmers get their info?(Using India as an example because it is similar to Nigeria)

% farmers for each info source (NSSO, 2005) Not accessed any source

Other progressive farmersInput dealerRadioTVNewspaperExtension workerKVKPrivate agency/NGO


Innovations in public sector extension – the 10th and 11th 5 year plans

(Using India as an example because it is similar to Nigeria)

• Support to State Extension Programs for Extension Reforms (SSEPER) = Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA)

• Agriclinics and Agribusiness scheme• Kisan Call Centres• Soil Testing Programs


ATMA(Using India as an example because it is similar to Nigeria)

Organizational structure during pilot and national up-scale

Revised structure 2010


Nigeria Case: Key objectives

• To develop a framework for assessing extension system reform by identifying general goals, the strategies devised to meet them, and indicators that can measure the success of the reforms.

• To determine the type and extent of extension system reforms in Nigeria as well as the environment that stimulated these reforms and the conditions that made reform measures successful or not.

• To identify the causal factors and influences in the reform process that determined the success (or failure) of Nigeria’s reforms.

• To identify the necessary conditions for successful reform from which other countries can learn from in order to enhance their own extension system and inform their reform efforts.


Key Questions

• Challenges of Extension• Reform Objectives• Reform Measures• Reform Strategies• Reform Indicators and performance

assessments


Relevance

• Number of relevant questions within national survey

• Survey farmers: how often were they asked what their needs are

• Proportion of relevant information (compared to proportion of needs identified)

• Develop score cards to assess the relevance of the extension program delivery


Efficiency and EffectivenessIndicators

• Effectiveness: ability to achieve stated extension goals.

• Efficiency: Achieving maximum possible performance for any given expenditure of resources.

• Extension workers Check public records• Farmer surveys: Existence of options to obtain

information?• Number of extension worker training programs• Use of score cards to see the effectiveness and

efficiency of program delivery


Impact and Sustainability

• Existence of local oversight committees• Number of services provided by private

companies• Number of local organizations actively involved

in extension system• Number of trainees in system• Frequency or, and turnout at public consultations


Issues for Policy Options

• A fuller understanding of the historical trends, and enabling environment and the policy process

• An evaluation of the outcomes and success of the reformed agricultural extension system

• An assessment of the reform process, from policy to program, and from program to action that identifies all actors and players

• An assessment of the necessary and sufficient conditions to improve the relevance, effectiveness, and operational sustainability of the Nigerian extension system

• An analysis of the factors affecting extension policy reforms and the needed refinements


DISCUSSIONS?