Participatory Approaches in Agricultural Extension

Dr. S.R.Singh, Asstt. Director, CSS

National Institute of Agricultural Marketing(Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India)

Kota road, Bambala, Pratapnagar, Jaipur.

Structure of Presentation• Participatory Planning and Management

1. Objectives

2. Introduction

3. Perspective of participatory extension

4. Stages of participatory management

5. Roles of extension managers

6. Application of participatory approaches in extension

1.Objectives

This presentation will strengthen extension managers in-• Develop understanding on participatory development

and its principles;• Explain the stages of participatory management viz.

planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation• Identify the roles of extension functionaries in

participatory management• Apply the participatory approaches in agricultural

extension

2-Introduction

• Participation is a dynamic group process in which all members of a group contribute, share and are influenced by the interchange of ideas and activities toward problem-solving or decision making, an empowering process which enables local people to do their own analysis, to take command, to gain in confidence, to make their own decisions, plan and take action.

• A participatory approach are implies a major role for local populations in allocating rights and responsibilities over resources

• It may involve partnerships with other interest groups at micro and macro levels, such as district level agencies.

• Understanding the process of participatory management would help the extension functionaries to encourage participation at field level and to play an effective role in sustainable development of agriculture as a facilitator and catalyst.

3-Perspectives of participatory extension• Sen indicates that People’s participation is a

central feature of rural development and extension efforts throughout the developing countries across the world. People’s participation has been a constant theme since the beginning of rural development in all the Asian and African countries, those have emerged free from the colonial powers.

1. Decentralization of the burden of extension costs through fiscal system

2. Decentralization of extension through structural reform with the goal of improving institutional responsiveness and accountability; and

3. Decentralization of the management of extension through farmer’s participatory involvement in decision making and responsibility of extension programs

• Extension Program-----People’s participation in extension---involvement of people in the programs-----directed social change-----development agencies------analyzing the situations------- deciding on the problems------fixing of priorities------- drawing plans of action------, taking initiative in implementing activities----------through contributing their ideas, materials, resources, labour and time-------finally evaluating the results

Rationale of People’s Participation

Sen explain –directed social changes, -Human resource development -the development of human and inner material resources, -catalyst for development - stimulus and support to human being -involves transfer of administrative and financial powers -sharing of technical and legal information with the local people, Rationale behind on that is as follows:• Reduction in development cost to the government and other development

agencies.• Enhancing the capacity of the rural communities to deal with their problems.• Correction of mistakes made by project authority in designing and

implementing the programs of action.• Increase in the level of political awareness of the people.• Reaching the program’s benefits to all the legitimate claimants.• Decrease in perpetual dependence of people on government and thereby

making the program self—sustaining and local people self—reliant.• Gaining access to and control of resources• Easier mobilization of local resources• Gradual empowerment of socially and economically disadvantaged people in

the community.

Types of participation

• Basu and Goswami explain two things i) structural relationships development and the developing

people’s capacities and skillsii) the methods and techniques whereby local people can be

brought to play a part and to develop a stake in development programs and projects. Another way of distinguishing between different forms of participation is to think in terms of levels or degrees of participation. These can be understood along a continuum and can range from participation as essentially an act of manipulation to a degree of participation in which stakeholders become partners in the development initiative and begin to assume full responsibility for its management:

A. Information: When stakeholders are informed about their rights, responsibilities, and options, the first important step towards genuine participation takes place. The main draw-back at this stage is that emphasis is placed on one way communication, with neither channel for feedback nor power for negotiation.

B. Consultation: consult with all stakeholders to obtain input of ideas and suggestions.

C. Consensus building: Enhancing understanding among stakeholders and draw a acceptable conclusion to all;

D. Decision making: through the collective decisions and initiation of shared responsibilities for outcomes that may result.

E. Risk sharing: This level builds upon the preceding one but expands beyond decisions to encompass the effects of their results, a mix of beneficial, harmful and natural consequences.

F. Partnership: This relationship entails exchange among equals working towards a mutual goal. Note that equal as applied here is not in terms of form, structure, or function but in terms of balance of respect. Since partnership builds upon the proceeding levels, it assumes mutual responsibility and risk sharing.

Pretty and Vodouhê present a typology of participation: how people participate in development programs and

projects.

1.Passive Participation

Unilateral announcement by administration or project management

2.Participation in Information Giving

People participate by answering questions using questionnaire surveys

3.Participation by Consultation

People participate by being consulted, and external agents listen to views

4.Participation for Material Incentive

People participate by providing resources, for example labor, in return for food, cash or other material incentives.

5.Functional Participation

People participate by forming groups to meetpredetermined objectives related to the project

6.Interactive Participation

People participate in joint analysis, which leads to action plans and the formation of new local institutions

7. Self-Mobilization

People participate by taking initiative independent ofexternal institution to change systems.

Source: Pretty (1994), adapted from Adnan et al (1992).

4. Stages of participatory management

• Participatory management is a process that consists of diagnosis of issues and understanding the resources base, planning the interventions, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the outcomes and processes. There should be a logical sequence of actions and events, which is an important feature of participatory development. It can be divide into following-

A-Generating information on the resource situations and issues concerned

B-PlanningC-ImplementationD-Monitoring and evaluationE-Impact assessment

A-Information Generation• Realistic and fact-based • Understand the resource situation of the areas• Know about problems associated with the communities• Basic knowledge about the resources; and the opportunities.Uphoff (1991) viewed that officials may readily concede that socio-

economic information from rural people is useful in project planning and operation, but will be reluctant to engage farmers in discussions of technical nature, assuming that poorly educated persons have little to contribute in this sphere.

B- Benefits of planning according to “Sarkar”• To execute program effectively.• To focus attention on objectives.• To give direction to administration.• To reduce overlapping and wasteful activities.• To lay foundation for successful operations.• To identify potential opportunities and risks.• To set standards or criteria against which

performance may be evaluated for facilitating control.

Steps in participatory planning• Understanding the existing condition and Situation

analysis• Setting objectives• Community Organization• Analysis of problems and constraints• Conflict resolution• Definition of options and interventions -Low cost and Local made -Ease of adopting by the stake holders -Low cost of maintenance -Should take care of problem of displacement of

labour - Should not add to drudgery -Should be able to address every primary

stakeholder• Preparation of action plan

Definition of objectives intended to be achievedSMART objectives need to be set for the project SMART

stands for• Specific: the objective should specify what intends to

be achieved.• Measurable: standards need to be defined so that

achievement of objectives can be judged• Achievable: At the field situation, the set objectives

should be achievable and realistic• Relevant: objectives need to be relevant to the needs

of local people• Time Bound: Time dimension needs to be defined for

achieving the objectivesObjectives should be set in such a manner that they

should overtly define why the project needs doing, whom it is meant for and what is the benefit at the completion of the project. Extension agency should have clarity that concerns of marginalized poor need to be addressed while setting the objectives.

Action Plan

Clear objectives

Source of funds Time frame

Area

2.What?

4.Where?5.How?

6.Who?

3.When?

1.Why?7.Which?

C-Benefits of implementation• Most local people are committed to continue the

activities even after withdrawal of external support.

• Active participation during implementation helps develop skills and confidence among the stakeholders

• Greater sense of ownership and agreement of the process to achieve commonly designed objectives

• Efforts of local people and inputs are more likely to be targeted at the identified needs to get useful outputs.

• Inputs and activities are more likely to result in outputs in time, of good quality and within the specified budgets when local knowledge and skills are tapped into the project

• As most stakeholders participate in implementation, transparency and accountability are ensured.

Participatory Implementation: The stakeholders and the development agency develop good understanding of the project, the directions they have to take, activities to be carried out in the time schedules, etc by the time they complete the process of participatory planning. Putting the developed plan into action by the stakeholders is participatory implementation.

Benefits of implementation• Most local people are committed to continue the activities

even after withdrawal of external support.• Develop skills and confidence among the stakeholders• Sense of ownership and achievement of designed

objectives• Efforts of local people and inputs are more likely to be

targeted at the identified needs to get useful outputs.• Best use of Inputs, specified budgets, local knowledge and

skills of stakeholders participate in implementation, transparency and accountability are ensured

D-Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation

• A continuous / periodic review and surveillance • By management at every level• To ensure effective input deliveries, work schedules, targeted

outputs.i) Output: Specific products or services which activity is expected to

produce from its inputs in order to achieve the set objectives. (increased irrigation, fertilizer use, health facility etc.)

ii) Effects: Outcomes of the use of Project inputs – (incremental yields, income, etc.)

iii) Impact: Outcome of Project Effects (Standard of living and reducing poverty both at individual and community level)

Aspects concerned in Monitoring: Operation, Performance and Impacts of program / project is carried out in terms of-

• Whether the tasks are carried out according to schedule?• Whether the results are laid to realization of project objectives?• Whether the objectives / targets / execution needs adjustments?

The benefits of Participatory Monitoring• Provides an ongoing picture • Problems are identified and solutions sought early • Good standards are maintained • Resources are used effectively• Participatory Monitoring can show the resources • Complete picture of project is produced • Participatory Monitoring provides information for

decision makers• Keeping track of activities by recording information • Immediate feedback, and can be used in the future

4. Roles of Extension Managers

With the paradigm shift from top down to bottom-up approach, extension managers may be forced to undergo a transition and change their mindset to involve farmers and local communities in different phases of management. In the changing perspective, extension mangers are envisaged to play the following roles:

• Facilitation• Community organization• Negotiation and Mediation.• Human Resource Development• Encourage people to understand their potentialities• Mobilized individuals which promotes ownership

5. Application of participatory approaches in extension

According to Chambers-• Natural resources and agriculture• Soil and water conservation (especially in watershed)• Forestry (especially joint forest management) and agro forestry• Fisheries and aquaculture• Biodiversity and wildlife reserve management• Village resource management planning and action• Integrated pest management• Crops and animal husbandry, including farmer participatory

research/Farming systems research and problem identification by farmers

• Irrigation, • Marketing, • Women’s empowerment, gender awareness etc

• Children, Health and nutrition, Health assessments and monitoring, Food security and nutrition assessment and monitoring, Water and sanitation, including Community-Led Total Sanitation, • Emergency assessment and management

• Sexual and reproductive health, including HIV/AIDS awareness and action

• Slum improvement, • Urban violence, Policy