This study assessed the performance of extension services in efforts to maintain the food security of paddy-rice farmers households in Bondowoso, Indonesia. The farmers satisfaction with extension services is very closely related to the management of extension services that can be identified through feedback from farmers as users of extension services. This study was aimed to analyze the performance of extension services and promote the development strategies. The survey method was used to determine the level of innovation needs and availability of innovations through extension services as well as the level of farmer satisfaction with the performance of extension services. Data obtained from structured interviews with 200 respondents and the observation process. The strategy that needs to be developed in improving the quality of extension services is to increase the competency of extension workers in accessing technology and management of farmer groups.

This paper examines the determinants of farmers’ access to agricultural extension services and adoption of technical inputs. It also attempts to identify what works best for Indian agriculture. Based upon all-India unit-level data of 35,200 farming households surveyed by the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) under the 70th round in 2013, it applies the binary logistic regression model. The study underlines that the ‘Access’ to agricultural extension services does not guarantee ‘Adoption’ of the technologies or better farm practices, as all the variables emerging as significant in case of ‘Access’ do not emerge as significant for ‘Adoption’. The study finds the strong influence of personal and household characteristics on both ‘Access’ and ‘Adoption’. However, socioeconomic and technology variables such as caste, gender, religion, and usage of ICT are found to be important for ‘Access’ but not for the ‘Adoption’. The paper underlines that physical forms of extension services are far more important than the modern ICT driven services in the developing countries like India. It, therefore, recommends significant strengthening of these services with more generous government support.

Advisory services are considered to play an important role in the development of competitiveness and sustainability in agriculture. Advisory services have been studied at policy level, structural level and within case studies, but there is still restricted knowledge about advisors’ and farmers’ view on advisory services in general. This paper presents the views of Swedish advisors and farmers on advisory services. In a survey-based study, perceptions of farm advisors and full-time farmers in commercial Swedish agriculture on advisory services were identified and statistically analysed, comparing differences between and within the groups. Significant differences in perceptions of advisors and farmers emerged in less concrete areas and on topics connected to change, management and strategy. Consequences of discrepancies in perceptions are that advisors may deliver too much, too little or off target, especially when expectations on advisory services are not clearly expressed. A strong and proactive back-office supporting the advisors is needed to prevent these possible consequences.

This study examined Greece's Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System (AKIS) and assessed the flow of information and linkages among eight stakeholder groups: policy, education, research, consulting, agricultural cooperatives, credit, private enterprises, and farmers. Data were collected using an online survey tool from 61 experts/representatives following an initial phone communication. The Graph Theoretical Technique was utilized to achieve the survey's objectives. The results revealed dominant and subordinated actors in the system and identified a critical pathway for information flow within AKIS. Policymakers can leverage these findings to strengthen linkages, address information gaps, and promote innovation and equitable development in the agricultural sector.

Food systems are at the nexus of food security, nutritional health, ecosystems, climate change, and prosperity. Agricultural policies in India and South Asia have, to date, focused on increasing food production but have neglected the negative externalities on nutrition, natural capital, and biodiversity. A new paradigm on food system transformation is emerging using the concept of‘planetary boundaries’ in defining the ‘safe operating space’ for stability of the earth system and human health. Globally, the food system has been adapting to rapid population growth. However, more than 800 million people still have inadequate access to food – many of whom live in India. In addition, a growing share of the world population suffers from micronutrient deficiencies or is overweight or obese, leading to an increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases. India and, indeed, most countries in South Asia are now food surplus but not “nutrition secure”. Both availability and affordability of healthy and nutritious diets pose challenges for some of the most vulnerable in society. 

The COVID-19 outbreak imposed shocks so serious that the gap between the rich and the poor has widen – worsening the predicaments of marginalized and vulnerable people. Unless the voices of the voiceless are raised and the plights of the vulnerable are effectively addressed, poverty, inequality and exclusions will continue to widen.This report, which adopts a rapid assessment methodology, presents a framework to lift the bottom quintile of South Africa’s population from falling deeper into poverty, squalor, and exclusion.To achieve this, the report provides a rapid assessment of the needs created by COVID-19, not only directly, but indirectly through the impact of lockdowns and other measures taken to combat the spread of the disease.

Issues around bundling of climate smart agriculture (CSA) and climate information services (CIS) have been kept relatively distinct whereas in reality, they are more impactful when integrated. Using the case of the Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Change Research in Africa (AICCRA) Project that emphasizes bundling as a critical component of research in development, six regions of Ghana were purposively selected based on the identified value chain crops for implementation. 120 respondents including practicing farmers and advisors as reference,rated contributions of 21 innovations to 25 climate smartness indicators. These include gender, youth and social inclusion (GSI), enabling environment (EE), ability to enhance soil, water, crop and animal health (One-Healthinclusion (GSI), enabling environment (EE), ability to enhance soil, water, crop and animal health (One-HealthAchievement) (OHA), end-user friendliness (EUF) and climate smart agriculture (CS) for prioritization, bundling and ultimately to construct a Climate Smart Readiness Index (CSRI).

The creation of Competitive Research Grants (CRGs) is globally recognized as an institutional innovation for improving the effectiveness of agricultural research. Unlike block grants for research, CRGs are expected to bring in many top-quality proposals from a wide range of actors, selecting the best out of them and thus getting more value for money. The Government of Bangladesh established the Krishi Gobeshona Foundation (KGF) in 2007 as an agency to administer and promote competitive research grants in agriculture. Beyond this, KGF was also tasked with building partnerships and strengthening research capacities. Over the last 15 years, KGF has funded 10 basic research proposals and 260 Competitive Grant Proposals (CGPs). It has also supported several short-term projects/studies. KGF, over the years, has also promoted pluralism in agricultural research and multi-institutional research functioning. Along the way, it also made several changes in its governance and rules related to grant making as well as management processes. In this Good Practice Note, Dr Wais Kabir, reflects on the performance of KGF over the years, its success and challenges and he draws several lessons for all those who are trying to initiate and promote CRGs in agriculture.

Mexico is considered the geographic center of origin of the Agave genus. The "maguey pulquero" (Agave mapisagaand A. salmiana) is produced and used in central Mexico to make a traditional fermented beverage known aspulque, which has been made and consumed since pre-Hispanic times and is still a form of subsistence for rural families.The maguey provides great ecological, cultural and nutritional benefits. In Jiquipilco, pulque production dates back to the settlement of the Otomí ethnic group (ñhañhú) in pre-Hispanic times. However, due to the discrediting of pulque and its marginal commercialization, few people seek the sustainable production and use of this crop. This project began as a training project for a professional master's degree in 2013. It was not funded, but flourished from the conviction of contributing to transform the socioecosystem around the maguey pulquero, an initiative to which various actors joined voluntarily.

This research examined the challenges, and training needs for the integration of social media into extension in Enugu State, Nigeria. Ninety-seven agricultural extension workers were proportionately selected from six agricultural zones in Enugu State. Data were generated through a questionnaire and results were presented with percentages and mean scores. The major challenge to the use of social media was the lack of access to social media by some target audiences ( x =1.55) and the complexity of the devices (phone and media). Some areas of training needs of the extension workers were how to place advertisements using Youtube (89.5%), how to transform images on Instagram (89%), how to post a link on Twitter (83.6%) and how to update WhatsApp application (79.4%). The government and extension organization should provide internet and internet-enabled devices as part of tools for extension work and the use of social media should be incorporated as part of continuous professional development (CPD) for extension agents by extension organizations in Enugu State.

Agribusiness incubation plays a key role in creating and nurturing viable agricultural entrepreneurships involving diverse stakeholders. Currently, agribusiness incubation is campus bound, offering cohort-based pre-incubation and other incubation services. This strategy has an inherent limitation of leaving out grassroot incubation, something that has always been associated with agricultural value chains. With this in mind the Agri-Business Incubator of the ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute (ICAR-CTCRI ABI) has developed the concept of Satellite Incubation Centres – a collaborative system for decentralising incubation services to the grassroot level.

The study assessed the capability of extension agents in disseminating Climate Change (CC) information in Delta State, Nigeria. A multi-stage procedure was used in selecting 60 respondents. Data were collected on respondents’ capacity for outreach to farmers; existence of linkage on CC and sources of information on CC, constraints to building capacities for outreach and strategies to strengthen capacities.  Lack of human resources, training programmes on CC were constraints to building capacities for outreach. Organization of seminars, workshops, proper staffing, provision of incentives were suggested as strategies to strengthen capacity for outreach. Extension agents in the state lack the requisite facilities for outreach to farmers on climate change agricultural adaptation. Also, there are inadequate human and material resources necessary for effective coverage of the farming population. Government and development organizations should hire qualified extension personnel and provide weather observatory for CC outreach in Delta State.

A successful combination of training, demonstration and incentives led to a new ecosystem for a pluralistic, farmercentered, and market-oriented extension system in Cambodia, fully mainstreamed and embedded in national policy and institutional frameworks. This resulted in an expansion of the traditional range of public investments in infrastructure for irrigation and improved water management; clean energy-powered equipment; natural resource management; erosion control; forest replanting; and disaster preparation.

Lower-income populations in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) often face challenges accessing affordable, desirable, safe, and nutritious food, contributing to poor diet quality and malnutrition. As the main source of food for the majority of this population, private-sector firms have the potential to play a key role in alleviating this – and if they can do profitably, could help their bottom line in the process. However, little is known about the specific approaches they can use for doing so, or about how effective those are. To help fill this gap, this study seeks to identify the business model features that companies use to reach lower-income consumers in LMICs with food products. This is done through a systematic review of research as well as a scoping review of real-world companies.

Poverty has become overwhelmingly rural in Vietnam. The vast majority ofpoor people (86 per cent) belong to ethnic minorities living in remote areas. Tra Vinh and Ben Tre provinces, two of the poorest provinces located in southern Viet Nam’s Mekong Delta Region, are highly vulnerable to and frequently impacted by climate-related disasters, such as floods, storms and droughts. Vietnam has embraced the approach of multidimensional poverty measurement, which defines the rural poverty line as VND 700,000 (US$29) per person per month. The Project for Adaptation to Climate Change in the Mekong Delta in the Ben Tre and Tra Vinh Provinces (AMD) worked to strengthen the resilience and adaptive capacity of 60,000 smallholder farmer households by generating sustainable income opportunities and improved rural livelihoods, reaching an estimated 210,000 people. To achieve this, AMD invested in climate-resilient, inclusive and remunerative value chain opportunities, including coconut, fruits and aquaculture. Ten people who benefited from AMD in different ways share their stories onthe following pages. Three years after the project closed, the rural businesses they built have proven to be sustainable, enabling them to escape poverty and contribute to the well-being of their families and communities.