Next generation agricultural extension: social relations for practice change

The extension of agricultural technologies has long been advocated as a pathway to improved smallholder farmer livelihoods and rural development. However, agricultural extension based on the provision of information, technology and credit—known as the ‘provisionist’ model—does not necessarily lead to sustainable change.

This project explores what the next generation of agricultural extension would look like if it began with the premise that farming is about more-than-human relationships. Using a co-design and farmer-centred approach, the project designs and tests agricultural extension methods for supporting sustainable livelihood ecologies with farmers in north-west (NW) Cambodia.

The principal research question guiding this project is: ‘which forms of agricultural extension contribute to lasting practice change able to support households and communities to create sustainable livelihoods that meet the needs and aspirations of farmers in complex social, political, and ecological contexts?’

The research approach includes an examination of existing practices, knowledge and resources, any past agricultural extension interventions which have already taken place, as well as the undertaking of research to understand smallholders’ needs, desires and aspirations which are informing this new relational approach.

The CSC contribution to this project involves participatory activities with farmer groups to offer them the opportunity to articulate their agricultural aspirations together, and work with them to co-design agricultural extension interventions which have the best chance of success.

Participatory workshops draw on Assets Based Community Development (ABCD) methods and apply community economies analysis. The aim of these workshops is to gain understanding of the existing practices and knowledge of farming families, and to better understand the range of resources which are currently available and utilised by these families in their agricultural activities. An additional aim of this activity is to establish farmer desires and capacities for change in order to tailor intervention and agricultural extension through social relations which involve supporting individuals and organisations. These workshops facilitate group-based activities to establish an overview of the diverse existing livelihood practices that sustain households and communities and to analyse how these differ for women and men.

Community economies analysis will identify existing livelihoods strategies that secure aspects of community wellbeing, and pathways that are likely to support further improvements according to farmers’ aspirations and priorities.

It is hoped that the knowledge generated through this project will be applicable to agricultural extension practices and policies elsewhere in Cambodia and more widely. The project will provide models for extension practice that builds on farmers’ strengths and expertise and which are able to support farmers’ aspirations and priorities for the future.

Next Generation Agricultural Extension Newsletter (Issue 1, July 2022)