Purpose: Capacity development for agricultural research and development is missing an opportunity. Initiatives tend to focus on developing capacity of individuals and even when the ultimate aim is social change leave the transformation of individual into social learning largely to chance. I use the lens of social learning systems, particularly…

Purpose: This article outlines the emergence of programme teams in the Australian dairy farm sector as a response to counter weaknesses in the institutional environment for agricultural innovation which favours technology adoption/diffusion approaches. Design/methodology/approach: The strengths, weaknesses and risks of different approaches to…

Purpose: Agricultural advisory services are perceived by many actors involved in rural development as a key driver behind innovation processes in agriculture. However, changes in national and global contexts cause dramatic changes in the orientation of advisory services, their organisation and their methods of intervention. This article aims to…

The majority of the population of Vietnam lives in rural areas and depends on agriculture for their livelihood. Consistent growth of the agriculture sector over the past two decades has contributed to a remarkable reduction in the poverty rate and the virtual elimination of hunger in the rural areas of Vietnam. In order to continue the growth…

This study identified, defined, and applied communications concepts required by adult educators in agriculture to fulfill their role as change agents. An extensive review was made of the literature, related research, and opinions of specialists in communication, extension education, and vocational agriculture to predict behavior needed for future…

A study of Haldimand County (Ontario, Canada) farmers' use and understanding of soil test reports and the relationship of these variables with certain personal and social characteristics of the respondents are summarized. The objectives of the study were to indicate the extent to which farmers use the soil test report, the quality of fertilizer…

The Rural Development Distance Learning and Training Strategy targets locally recruited field staff of the World Bank Rural Sector. Field staff at the bank's mission offices worldwide are heterogeneous in terms of culture, ethnicity, race, gender, social class, and religion. However, they have the following in common: they follow the Bank's work…

A study was made of the Washington Agricultural Extension Service from 1912 to 1961 to identify and interpret the changing administrative structure, program content, methods and techniques, relationships with other organizations and agencies, fundamental changes in ways of deciding educational content, influences of the Extension Service on…

Prompted by difficulties in specialist recruitment and retention, this study sought to determine the kinds of role expectations held by Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agricultural and home economics specialists themselves, as well as by CES administrators, subject matter department heads, supervisors (district agents), and county Extension…

PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY AND THE TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY CONDUCTED A FIVE YEAR (1961-66) AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION PROJECT IN TWO PENNSYLVANIA COUNTIES. THIS PAPER REPORTED THE PRELIMINARY FINDINGS. USING THE CRITERION OF ADOPTION OF SELECTED AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES BY SURROUNDING FARMERS, THEY ATTEMPTED TO MEASURE THE INFLUENCE OF 17…

Conducted in Uruguay during 1965-68, this study compared adoption rates for selected agricultural practices between one area which received an extension program and one which did not; and sought relationships between selected characteristics of individual farmers and the adoption of new practices. Data came from interviews with 69 experimental and…

By analyzing the scope and structure of agricultural extension services in Australia, Great Britain, and the United States, this work attempts to set guidelines for measuring progress and guiding extension efforts. Extension training, agricultural policy, and activities of national, international, state, and provincial bodies are examined. The…

This study focused on whether radio increases the awareness level of the rural population in India, whether increases in awareness vary by the type of subject matter broadcast, and what the characteristics are (including media habits and community awareness) of the rural radio listeners. Ten villages in Hassan District, Mysore State, were…

THE PURPOSE OF THIS NORTH CAROLINA STUDY WAS TO ASSESS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SELECTED ASPECTS OF COUNTY EXTENSION AGENTS' BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE (MAINLY COLLEGE MAJORS AND PARTICIPATION IN COURSES ON EXTENSION METHODS) AND THEIR DEFINITION OF THE ROLE OF COOPERATIVE EXTENSION. RESPONDENTS WERE 334 AGENTS REPRESENTING 99 OF THE 100 COUNTIES…