The voice of the farmer in agricultural extension - a review of beneficiary assessments of agricultural extrension and an inquiry into their potential as a management tool

This paper reviews beneficiary assessments (BAs) (defined as an approach to information gathering, which assesses the value of an activity, as perceived by its principal users) of agricultural extension programs in Africa (Part I), and, examines the potential for institutionalizing this monitoring and evaluation approach, into Bank-supported agricultural extension projects (Part II). These beneficiary assessments were the first efforts in registering, in a systematic manner, the expressed reactions of the persons they served - the farmers - so as to improve the quality of their work. Agricultural extension programs were generally found to increase the rate of adoption among farmer-beneficiaries of the techniques put forward, moreover, demonstration plots were found to be the most effective way to induce changes in farmers' production practices. Major extensive service shortcomings were, from the farmers' perspective, identified as: lack of renewal of extension themes, with poor linkages between extension, and research; low coverage rate with poor diffusion via contact groups; and, lack of means to apply for either, seeds, fertilizer, insecticide, or credit. Nonetheless, Task Managers found BAs to be an extremely useful tool in making changes to projects, or in designing subsequent projects, and, the policy changes brought about by the findings of BAs were: increased attention to improving contact groups functions; need to go beyond communication with contact groups, i.e. using more participatory extension approaches; and, adapting extension to local needs, including increased institutional linkages.