Mary Kamau - Extension Policy, Kenya Presentation given at the GFRAS side event on Rural Extension Policy, Manila 2012_09_25. More info at http://www.meas-extension.org/meas-offers/best-practice/policy

1. STRENGTHENING EXTENSION &
ADVISORYSERVICE DELIVERY TOWARDS
MEETING THE CHALLENGES OF THE 21ST
CENTURY
The Critical Factors – The Kenya Experience
BY MARY KAMAU
DIRECTOR, EXTENSION & TRAINING
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE
KENYA
DURING THE GLOBAL FORUM FOR RURAL ADVISORY SERVICES (GFRAS) 3RD
ANNUAL CONFERENCE, MANILA PHILIPPINES 25 SEPTEMBER 2012
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2. Agricultural Extension in Kenya
• Kenya’s agriculture is dominated by small
scale farmers (75% of the total production).
• There are wide variations among the small
farmers in management practices and
husbandry skills
• Therefore, provision of high quality extension
services is very critical for improvement of
smallholder productivity, farm incomes and
hence poverty reduction benefits
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3. National Agricultural Sector
Extension Policy (NASEP)
• Developed by Key sector Ministries with the
objective of making extension service
delivery more effective and efficient.
• Has strong focus on promotion of pluralistic
and demand driven extension service.
• Addresses funding modalities and
regulation of extension services
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4. Outline of Critical Factors
1. Improved Management and organisation of Ext. Service
2. Promoting Pluralistic In Extension Provision
3. Participatory M&E in Extension implemented
4. Appropriate Extension Approaches and Methods
5. Clientele Empowerment
6. Stakeholder Collaboration & Networking
7. Research-extension-client Linkages
8. Institutional and Human Resource Capacity Building
9. Information & Communication Technology (ICT)
10. Mainstreaming Cross-Cutting Issues
11. Financing of Extension Service
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5. 1. Improve Management and Organisation of
Extension Service:
• Embrace pluralism in extension services delivery
• Promote decentralization of decision making processes
• Establish an independent regulatory system
• Establish of participatory M&E and impact assessment;
• Invest in capacity building (for private and public
extension providers, extension clientele, etc.);
• Strengthen inter-sectoral planning (to improve extension
facilitating factors.
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6. 2. Promote Pluralism in Extension Provision
• Develop guidelines, code of ethics and standards for
extension providers.
• Establish regulatory body for registration and
accreditation of extension providers and practitioners.
• Strengthen public-private partnerships
• Build capacity of private sector to operate
• Empower community organizations
• Institutional linkage to providers of facilitating factors
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7. 3. Implement Participatory M&E in Extension
i. Service Charters for Extension Service Providers
ii. Use a dynamic, Participatory M&E Framework
iii. Undertake TNA and train stakeholders on PM&E
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8. 4. Use Appropriate Extension Approaches and
Methods
• Promote market and value addition orientation in
production
• Demand driven and beneficiary led approach
• Use of group approaches
• Have clear accountability mechanisms;
• Recognise socio-economic and cultural characteristics
of the clients
• Mainstream cross-cutting issues
• Promote enterprise diversification
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9. Farmers during a Method Demonstration
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10. 5. Empower Clientele
• Develop community information system networks.
• Promote good governance in clientele groups and
cooperatives.
• Build the capacity for community groups on e.g. resource
mobilisation and access
• Harmonise clientele empowerment approaches
• Link clients with service providers
• Link clients with the markets
• Empower community groups on technology development
and entrepreneurship business skills.
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11. Farmers and stakeholders tour a cabbage demonstration
plot during a farmers’ field day in an ATC.
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12. 6. Stakeholder Collaboration & Networking
• Should provide for integrated approach to problem
solving
• Increase efficiency in utilization of resources
• Minimize duplication of efforts
• Allow for exchange of ideas/updating of
technologies
• Take into account institutional comparative
advantages
• Strife for benefits to all stakeholders
(win-win situation).
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13. 7. Research-Extension-Client Linkages
• Facilitate strengthening of research-extension-client
linkages and feedback mechanism.
• Sector ministries and research bodies to design a
workable mechanism for strengthening research-
extension-client linkage and feedback.
• Institutionalise research setting priorities
• Formulate sustainable funding mechanisms for
technology development, dissemination and Clientele
access.
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14. 8. Institutional and Human Resource Capacity
Building
• Extension personnel are well trained and motivated.
• In-service staff training on e.g. farming as a business;
value addition; emerging technological developments.
• Gender balance in service and mainstreaming in
training.
• Ensure rationalization of staff recruitment and
deployment
• Public training institutions should respond to the wider
sectoral and stakeholder requirements
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15. 9. Information & Communication Technology
(ICT)
• Investment in human skills and operational
infrastructure (for personnel and clientele capacity
building in ICT).
• Establish an integrated and dynamic database for
the sector.
• Operate ICT-based rural information centres.
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16. 10. Mainstreaming Cross-Cutting Issues
• Mainstream HIV/AID
• Capacity building of CBOs on governance
• Communities basic rights and obligation
• Resource use conflict management
• Management and conservation of natural resources
and environment
• Gender friendly extension approaches
• Vulnerable groups such as the disabled and
resource-poor farmers
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17. 11. Financing of Extension Service
• Commercialisation of extension services
• Privatization of services where private sector
business can thrive
• Ensure adequate funding mechanism of extension
services.
• Facilitate a stakeholder-driven Trust Fund for
extension service
• Institutional arrangements for cost sharing and
graduating to full cost recovery.
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18. Agricultural Staff on practical training in a
Research Center
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19. END
THANK YOU
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