A Framework for Designing and Analyzing Pluralistic Agricultural Advisory Services

Agricultural advisory services play an important role in supporting the use of the agricultural sector as an engine of pro-poor growth and enabling small farmers to meet new challenges, such as accessing export markets, adopting environmentally sustainable production techniques, and coping with HIV/AIDS and other health challenges that affect agriculture. After years of neglect, there is now renewed interest in agricultural advisory services in many countries. ...

A 4-page brief that describes Prolinnova partners' experience in facilitating farmer-led joint research as an approach to agricultural development, and draws lessons for policy in research, extension and education.

As one of its activities, GFRAS is supporting the development of a guidance kit for evaluating rural advisory service (RAS) systems and programs. To further enhance the contribution RAS can make to rural livelihoods it is essential to monitor and evaluate RAS achievements within complex rural settings, and to engage in a lesson learning process with a wide range of stakeholders and organisations.