The extension triad approach in disseminating agricultural information to extension workers: some experiences from the Southern Highlands Dairy Development Project, Tanzania
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Date
2000
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Abstract
The agricultural extension services in developing countries
have been widely criticised for their ineffectiveness. The
extension triad is considered to be an alternative and
promising approach in an attempt to improve the extension
services in such countries. This study investigates the information-
seeking pattern of extension workers and the ways in
which the Southern Highlands Dairy Development Project
disseminates information to such workers, as well as the
extent to which it addresses some of the common problems
reported to hinder the extension services in developing countries.
Out of 66 copies of a semi-structured questionnaire
distributed to dairy extension supervisors and field extension
workers within the Project area, 49 responses (69.7%
response rate) were received. The use of personal sources,
attendance at professional meetings, seminars, short courses
and conferences and the reading of newspapers were found
to be the three main information sources consulted by the
respondents, while contact with researchers and the use of
agricultural libraries were very unpopular. The Project
extension services proved superior in comparison to the
traditional extension services. For sustainability purposes, it
is recommended that the Project, in collaboration with the
Government and farmer groups, launches an alternative
organisation to pursue activities run by the Project before it
comes to an end.
Description
Journal of Information Science, 2000; 26 (2) :121-128
Keywords
Southern Highlands, Agricultural extension services, Agricultural information, Agricultural information dissemination, Tanzania, Smallholder dairy farmers