The impact of agricultural extension services in the context of a heavily subsidized input system

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Publisher : Intl Food Policy Res Inst
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 44 pages
Book Rating : 4./5 ( download)

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Book Synopsis The impact of agricultural extension services in the context of a heavily subsidized input system by : Ragasa, Catherine

Download or read book The impact of agricultural extension services in the context of a heavily subsidized input system written by Ragasa, Catherine and published by Intl Food Policy Res Inst. This book was released on 2016-01-08 with total page 44 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This paper aims to test this hypothesis and to contribute to better understanding of strategies to revitalize the agricultural extension system in Malawi. Specifically, it examines the interplay between the fertilizer subsidy and access to extension services, and their impact on farm productivity and food security in Malawi. Results show that the fertilizer subsidy has inconsistent impact on farm productivity and food security; at the same time, access to agricultural advice was consistently insignificant in explaining farm productivity and food security. Further analysis, however, shows that when access to extension services is unpacked to include indicators of usefulness and farmers’ satisfaction, these indicators were statistically significant. Households who reported that they received very useful agricultural advice had greater productivity and greater food security than those who reported receiving advice that they considered not useful. This result implies the need to ensure the provision of relevant and useful agricultural advice to increase the likelihood of achieving agricultural development outcomes

Agricultural Input Subsidies

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Publisher : Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN 13 : 0199683522
Total Pages : 315 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (996 download)

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Book Synopsis Agricultural Input Subsidies by : Ephraim Chirwa

Download or read book Agricultural Input Subsidies written by Ephraim Chirwa and published by Oxford University Press, USA. This book was released on 2013-09-26 with total page 315 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book takes forward our understanding of agricultural input subsidies in low income countries.

Determinants of chemical fertilizer use in Nepal

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Publisher : Intl Food Policy Res Inst
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 48 pages
Book Rating : 4./5 ( download)

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Book Synopsis Determinants of chemical fertilizer use in Nepal by : Takeshima, Hiroyuki

Download or read book Determinants of chemical fertilizer use in Nepal written by Takeshima, Hiroyuki and published by Intl Food Policy Res Inst. This book was released on 2016-02-12 with total page 48 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Although overall chemical fertilizer use has grown steadily in Nepal in the past two decades, much of that growth has occurred in the Terai agroecological belt while use has stagnated in the Hills and the Mountains regions. Differences in chemical fertilizer use intensity between the Terai and the latter regions are typically pronounced among medium-to-large-size farmers. Using three rounds of the Nepal Living Standards Survey as well as secondary data, we examine the determinants of inorganic fertilizer (urea and DAP) use, as well as the marginal income returns from fertilizer use at the farm-household level. Similarities in soil and climate between farm locale and Agriculture Research Station locale seem to increase demand for fertilizer—even after controlling for distance to those stations. Most important, demand for chemical fertilizer is affected by the real fertilizer price (particularly since the 2003 NLSS survey), but the price response is relatively weaker in the Hills and Mountains, suggesting that returns to fertilizer may be generally low in those regions, and that reducing fertilizer price through subsidies on fertilizer or transportation may not substantially increase fertilizer use. This is confirmed by assessment of the returns to chemical fertilizer use estimated through generalized propensity score matching and ordinary propensity score matching. The findings cast doubt on the effectiveness of fertilizer subsidies as an instrument for stimulating chemical fertilizer use in Nepal, particularly among medium-to-large-scale farmers in the Hills, and point toward alternative measures like increased research and development into technologies that raise overall returns to chemical fertilizer.

Farm transition and indigenous growth

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Publisher : Intl Food Policy Res Inst
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 48 pages
Book Rating : 4./5 ( download)

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Book Synopsis Farm transition and indigenous growth by : Houssou, Nazaire

Download or read book Farm transition and indigenous growth written by Houssou, Nazaire and published by Intl Food Policy Res Inst. This book was released on 2016-01-15 with total page 48 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This paper characterizes the transition from small-scale farming and the drivers of farm size growth among medium- and large-scale farmers in Ghana. The research was designed to better understand the dynamics of change in Ghana’s farm structure and contribute to the debate on whether Africa should pursue a smallholder-based or large-scale oriented agricultural development strategy. The results suggest a rising number of medium-scale farmers and a declining number of smallholder farmers in the country, a pattern that is consistent with a changing farm structure in the country’s agricultural sector. More important, findings show that the rise to medium- and large-scale farming is significantly associated with successful transition of small-scale farmers rather than entry of medium or large farms into agriculture, reflecting small-scale farmers successfully breaking through the barriers of subsistence agriculture into more commercialized production systems. The findings in this paper also suggest that some of the factors thought to be important for change in farm structure are no obstacle to farm size growth, even though they may foster transition. Notably, the results here diverge from the patterns observed in Zambia and Kenya, which indicate that the emergent farmers came mostly from the urban elite. Unfortunately, past and current policy discussions have not featured these emergent farmers sufficiently in the quest to transform agriculture in Ghana. Government should capitalize on these emergent farmers who have a demonstrated ability to graduate productively as it strives to address challenges in the smallholder sector.

Institutional arrangements to make public spending responsive to the poor—(where) have they worked?

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Publisher : Intl Food Policy Res Inst
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 36 pages
Book Rating : 4./5 ( download)

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Book Synopsis Institutional arrangements to make public spending responsive to the poor—(where) have they worked? by : Mogues, Tewodaj

Download or read book Institutional arrangements to make public spending responsive to the poor—(where) have they worked? written by Mogues, Tewodaj and published by Intl Food Policy Res Inst. This book was released on 2016-04-06 with total page 36 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: There has been some recognition in the development community that building technical capacity of public service providers and increasing resources is not enough to bring about development outcomes. Researchers and practitioners are increasingly appreciating that accounting for the stated needs of communities supports the process of pro-poor public resource allocation. We examine four institutional arrangements that explicitly endeavor to make public spending responsive to the needs of the poor by moving decision-making procedures closer to the population—participatory budgeting, community-driven development (CDD) programs, decentralization, and delegated targeting of transfers. Using the existing literature, we compare experiences across the four arrangements and countries. Regarding responsiveness to needs of the poor, evidence is cautiously optimistic for participatory budgeting, CDD, and decentralization. As for delegating the targeting of transfers to subnational authorities and communities, evidence suggests that the effect may be regressive. However, there are important mediating effects of public spending responsiveness under the various institutional arrangements. Local elite capture is a key factor dampening pro-poor spending where either exogenous circumstances such as prevailing inequality, or inadequate program design, enable capture to materialize. Politics is an important determinant of the success of these arrangements.

The role of interactive radio programming in advancing women’s empowerment and crop and dietary diversity: Mixed methods evidence from Malawi

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Author :
Publisher : Intl Food Policy Res Inst
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 52 pages
Book Rating : 4./5 ( download)

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Book Synopsis The role of interactive radio programming in advancing women’s empowerment and crop and dietary diversity: Mixed methods evidence from Malawi by : Ragasa, Catherine

Download or read book The role of interactive radio programming in advancing women’s empowerment and crop and dietary diversity: Mixed methods evidence from Malawi written by Ragasa, Catherine and published by Intl Food Policy Res Inst. This book was released on 2020-04-16 with total page 52 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The study assesses the effect of interactive radio programming on women’s empowerment and agricultural development, employing nationally representative household panel data and qualitative interviews in Malawi. Four major findings can be highlighted. First, radio programming is the preferred source of agricultural and nutrition advice among many subpopulations: younger women and men used radio more than other sources for their agricultural information needs, while younger and older men used radio more than other sources for nutrition education. Second, results show a positive impact of radio programming on technology awareness but a limited impact on actual adoption of most agricultural practices being promoted, except crop residue incorporation. Third, results show positive impacts on dietary diversity and adoption of other nutrition practices among the rural population. Fourth, results show a strong association between access to interactive radio programming and women’s and men’s empowerment scores. The association is greater for women’s empowerment and younger men’s empowerment, the latter being the most disempowered group in the sample.

Challenges in implementing a small-scale farmers’ capacity-building program

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Author :
Publisher : Intl Food Policy Res Inst
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 48 pages
Book Rating : 4./5 ( download)

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Book Synopsis Challenges in implementing a small-scale farmers’ capacity-building program by : Ragasa, Catherine

Download or read book Challenges in implementing a small-scale farmers’ capacity-building program written by Ragasa, Catherine and published by Intl Food Policy Res Inst. This book was released on 2016-01-20 with total page 48 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In 2011, in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Democratic Republic of Congo’s government launched the Food Production, Processing, and Marketing project—which aimed to raise incomes and improve food security in the target areas by improving agricultural productivity, market efficiency, and the capacity of producers to respond to market signals. In August–October 2013 and February–March 2014, halfway through the project’s implementation, a midline survey was conducted to assess progress with respect to intermediate outcomes. The present paper highlights the results of that assessment survey. We pay close attention to accurate attribution of observed changes to the project and employ a double-difference method that compares the changes in indicators before the project and at the time of the survey (project midline) between the beneficiaries and comparable control groups. Overall, the survey results suggest weak impact on most of the outcome indicators, and they highlight challenges in implementing small-scale farmers’ capacity building within the context of weak institutions and a fragile political context.

Multifunctional Land Uses in Africa

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Publisher : Routledge
ISBN 13 : 100043916X
Total Pages : 193 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (4 download)

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Book Synopsis Multifunctional Land Uses in Africa by : Elisabeth Simelton

Download or read book Multifunctional Land Uses in Africa written by Elisabeth Simelton and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2019-07-09 with total page 193 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book presents contemporary case studies of land use, management practices, and innovation in Africa with a view to exploring how multifunctional land uses can alleviate food insecurity and poverty. Food security and livelihoods in Africa face multiple challenges in the form of feeding a growing population on declining land areas under the impacts of climate change. The overall question is what kind of farming systems can provide resilient livelihoods? This volume presents a selection of existing farming systems that demonstrate how more efficient use of land and natural resources, labour and other inputs can have positive effects on household food security and livelihoods. It examines how aquaculture, integrated water management, peri-urban farming systems, climate-smart agriculture practices and parkland agroforestry contribute multiple benefits. Drawing on case studies from Kenya, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Burkina Faso, contributed by young African scientists, this book provides a unique perspective on multifunctional land use in Africa and illustrates how non-conventional uses can be profitable while promoting social and environmental sustainability. Tapping into the global discussion on land scarcity and linking food security to existing land use change processes, this volume will stimulate readers looking for diversified land uses that are compatible with both household and national food security ambitions. This book will be of great interest to students and scholars of African development, agriculture, food security, land use and environmental management, as well as sustainable development more generally, in addition to policymakers and practitioners working in these areas. The Open Access version of this book, available at https://www.routledge.com/Multifunctional-Land-Uses-in-Africa-Susta-in-able-Food-Security/Simelton-Ostwald/p/book/9780367785420, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 license.

Agriculture for improved nutrition: Seizing the momentum

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Publisher : Intl Food Policy Res Inst
ISBN 13 : 1786399318
Total Pages : 233 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (863 download)

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Book Synopsis Agriculture for improved nutrition: Seizing the momentum by : Fan, Shenggen

Download or read book Agriculture for improved nutrition: Seizing the momentum written by Fan, Shenggen and published by Intl Food Policy Res Inst. This book was released on 2019-02-28 with total page 233 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Agriculture's vast potential to improve nutrition is just beginning to be tapped. New ideas, research, and initiatives developed over the past decade have created an opportunity for reimagining and redesigning agricultural and food systems for the benefit of nutrition. To support this transformation, the book reviews the latest findings, results from on-the-ground programs and interventions, and recent policy experiences from countries around the world that are bringing the agriculture and nutrition sectors closer together. Drawing on IFPRI's own work and that of the growing agriculture-nutrition community, this book strengthens the evidence base for, and expands our vision of, how agriculture can contribute to nutrition. Chapters cover an array of issues that link agriculture and nutrition, including food value chains, nutrition-sensitive programs and policies, government policies, and private sector investments. By highlighting both achievements and setbacks, Agriculture for Improved Nutrition seeks to inspire those who want to scale up successes that can transform food systems and improve the nutrition of billions of people.

African Economic Development

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Publisher : Oxford University Press
ISBN 13 : 0198832338
Total Pages : 334 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (988 download)

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Book Synopsis African Economic Development by : Christopher Cramer

Download or read book African Economic Development written by Christopher Cramer and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2020 with total page 334 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "This book challenges conventional wisdoms about economic performance and possible policies for economic development in African countries. Its starting point is the striking variation in African economic performance. Unevenness and inequalities form a central fact of African economic experiences. The authors highlight not only differences between countries, but also variations within countries, differences often organized around distinctions of gender, class, and ethnic identity. For example, neo-natal mortality and school dropout have been reduced, particularly for some classes of women in some areas of Africa. Horticultural and agribusiness exports have grown far more rapidly in some countries than in others. These variations (and many others) point to opportunities for changing performance, reducing inequalities, learning from other policy experiences, and escaping the ties of structure, and the legacies of a colonial past. The book rejects teleological illusions and Eurocentric prejudice, but it does pay close attention to the results of policy in more industrialized parts of the world. Seeing the contradictions of capitalism for what they are - fundamental and enduring - may help policy officials protect themselves against the misleading idea that development can be expected to be a smooth, linear process, or that it would be were certain impediments suddenly removed. The authors criticize a wide range of orthodox and heterodox economists, especially for their cavalier attitude to evidence. Drawing on their own decades of research and policy experience, they combine careful use of available evidence from a range of African countries with political economy insights (mainly derived from Kalecki, Kaldor and Hischman) to make the policy case for specific types of public sector investment"--

Assessing and strengthening Malawi’s pluralistic agricultural extension system: Evidence and lessons from a three-year research study

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Author :
Publisher : Intl Food Policy Res Inst
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 12 pages
Book Rating : 4./5 ( download)

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Book Synopsis Assessing and strengthening Malawi’s pluralistic agricultural extension system: Evidence and lessons from a three-year research study by : Ragasa, Catherine

Download or read book Assessing and strengthening Malawi’s pluralistic agricultural extension system: Evidence and lessons from a three-year research study written by Ragasa, Catherine and published by Intl Food Policy Res Inst. This book was released on 2019-11-20 with total page 12 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In July 2016, the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and partners launched a three-year evidence-based policy support project to analyze demand for and supply of agricultural extension services in Malawi and help design activities to strengthen service providers’ capacity to address farmers’ demands for information. For this project, IFPRI partnered with Wadonda Consult and the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) to conduct the household survey and qualitative interviews. Funding came from the Government of Flanders, the U.S. Agency for International Development through the Strengthening Agricultural and Nutrition Extension (SANE), the German Agency for International Cooperation [GIZ]), and the CGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions, and Markets (PIM). The project collected two rounds of nationally representative panel data of 2,880 households (2016 and 2018), two rounds of focus group discussions (FGDs), census of extension service providers in 15 districts, and a series of in-depth interviews. This note summarizes the main findings from 10 reports completed to analyze and draw conclusions from the stories behind these datasets.

Urbanization in the Global South

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Publisher : Taylor & Francis
ISBN 13 : 1000426297
Total Pages : 360 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (4 download)

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Book Synopsis Urbanization in the Global South by : Kala S Sridhar

Download or read book Urbanization in the Global South written by Kala S Sridhar and published by Taylor & Francis. This book was released on 2021-09-16 with total page 360 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book examines the challenges of urbanization in the global south and the linkages between urbanization, economic development and urban poverty from the perspectives of cities in Asia, Africa and Latin America. It focuses on various aspects of urbanization ranging from food security and public services like sanitation, water and electricity to the finances of cities and externalities associated with the urbanization process. The volume also highlights the importance of participatory urban governance for cities in India with comparative perspectives from other countries. It further focuses on the urbanization of poverty, livelihood in urban areas, overconsumption and nutrition and ecology. Based on primary data, the chapters in the volume review trends, opportunities, challenges, governance and strategies of several countries at different levels of urbanization, with several case studies from India. This multidisciplinary volume will be of great interest to researchers and students of development studies, sociology, economics and urban planning and policy. It will also be useful for policymakers, think tanks and practitioners in the area of urbanization.

Malawi

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Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1786995883
Total Pages : 217 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (869 download)

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Book Synopsis Malawi by : Matthias Rompel

Download or read book Malawi written by Matthias Rompel and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2020-10-29 with total page 217 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Malawi is one of the poorest countries on the globe. Subsistence agriculture remains at the very heart of its social fabric, and also lies at the root of its tremendous poverty. Yet while Malawi is among the worst performers in terms of per capita income and infant mortality, it is also a surprising leader in other areas (such as freedom of the press), has enjoyed over fifty years of relative stability since independence, and still holds great potential for economic development. Bringing together some of the leading experts on the country, this collection offers a comprehensive introduction to contemporary Malawi, encompassing its economy, culture, and politics. An invaluable resource for scholars and development professionals alike, the book assesses the root causes of Malawi's impoverishment, and also offers insight into how the country might break out of its development impasse.

The state of agricultural extension services in Ethiopia and their contribution to agricultural productivity

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Author :
Publisher : Intl Food Policy Res Inst
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 33 pages
Book Rating : 4./5 ( download)

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Book Synopsis The state of agricultural extension services in Ethiopia and their contribution to agricultural productivity by : Berhane, Guush

Download or read book The state of agricultural extension services in Ethiopia and their contribution to agricultural productivity written by Berhane, Guush and published by Intl Food Policy Res Inst. This book was released on 2018-05-10 with total page 33 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: We document the state of the extension system in Ethiopia and review the empirical evidence on the links between the key extension services provided, adoption of modern inputs, and agricultural productivity. In particular, we take stock of the provision of agricultural extension services, synthesize the evidence on the performance of the system, and suggest ways that it might contribute to accelerating agricultural growth and poverty reduction in the years ahead.

Gender research in the CGIAR research program on policies, institutions, and markets in 2018 and 2019

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Author :
Publisher : Intl Food Policy Res Inst
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 67 pages
Book Rating : 4./5 ( download)

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Book Synopsis Gender research in the CGIAR research program on policies, institutions, and markets in 2018 and 2019 by : Vos, Andrea

Download or read book Gender research in the CGIAR research program on policies, institutions, and markets in 2018 and 2019 written by Vos, Andrea and published by Intl Food Policy Res Inst. This book was released on 2021-02-11 with total page 67 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This report analyses PIM’s 391 peer-reviewed 2018 and 20191 publications. We highlight key gender findings and discuss the challenges faced by researchers in doing gender analysis, with a view to documenting lessons learned and improving practices. It is hoped that the gaps and strengths identified in this report will be useful inputs for future research under PIM and One CGIAR.

Food and Nutrition Security in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Vol. 1

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Author :
Publisher : Springer Nature
ISBN 13 : 3031467167
Total Pages : 477 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (314 download)

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Book Synopsis Food and Nutrition Security in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Vol. 1 by : Adam E. Ahmed

Download or read book Food and Nutrition Security in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Vol. 1 written by Adam E. Ahmed and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2024-01-16 with total page 477 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Food and nutrition security is a major concern for Saudi Arabia and the surrounding regions due to the range of challenges they face. These challenges include limited agricultural resources, low self-sufficiency in key food staples, climate change, and high levels of food loss and waste. This book aims to evaluate and analyze the current situation and future prospects of food and nutrition security in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, it seeks to analyze and assess the roles and functions of various institutions related to food security, providing a deeper understanding of the complex problems associated with it. Furthermore, this book aligns with Kingdom Vision 2030, which includes a set of strategies and programs focused on agriculture, food, and water security. It also aligns with the institutional identity of King Faisal University's "Food Security and Environmental Sustainability". The book consists of four volumes. Volume 1, entitled "National Analysis of Agriculture and Food Security" aims to assess the current state of food security in Saudi Arabia, covering key aspects such as agriculture and food resources, food systems, crops, livestock, poultry, fisheries, animal health, food loss and waste, transportation and strategic reserve infrastructure, food security institutions, population, agricultural extension, climate change, agricultural mechanization, smart agriculture, and the utilization of solar energy. This book is highly significant for professionals, researchers, policymakers, and entrepreneurs involved in food and nutrition security in Saudi Arabia, the Gulf Cooperation Council, and various national and international organizations. It offers a comprehensive analysis of the obstacles and possibilities in ensuring food and nutrition security, as well as presenting practical approaches to address these issues. Additionally, graduate students studying in fields related to food and nutrition security will benefit from this book.

Framework to assess performance and impact of pluralistic agricultural extension systems

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Author :
Publisher : Intl Food Policy Res Inst
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 48 pages
Book Rating : 4./5 ( download)

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Book Synopsis Framework to assess performance and impact of pluralistic agricultural extension systems by : Faure, Guy

Download or read book Framework to assess performance and impact of pluralistic agricultural extension systems written by Faure, Guy and published by Intl Food Policy Res Inst. This book was released on 2016-11-11 with total page 48 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Extension and advisory services (EAS) are well recognized as a key factor in contributing to agricultural productivity and growth. However, rigorous evaluation of EAS approaches and assessment of complex national or subnational pluralistic EAS systems are rare. This working paper examines the literature on experiential and empirical insights and explores methods to assess complex pluralistic EAS systems. The authors present conceptual thinking on innovation systems and EAS, and review the IFPRI “best-fit” framework. This framework remains relevant because it is based on a holistic perspective with an impact pathway orientation. The paper aims to operationalize and improve the best-fit framework to guide the evaluation of complex EAS systems. The authors draw on and summarize existing literature to illustrate methods and tools used to analyze each component of the framework. The review pays close attention to the literature and methods for assessing the diversity of service providers and their various delivery tools and learning approaches. The discussion also pays close attention to the interaction of each component and how it affects the performance and impact of EAS from a systems perspective. This paper adds key points and considerations on how to operationalize the best-fit framework to carry out evaluations of pluralistic EAS.