RESEARCH, TRAINING AND EXTENSION METHODS

These three processes have in common the acquiring and sharing of knowledge, theoretical or practical. They can be defined as follows:

• Research is a standardized process of investigation to discover new facts or information.
  
  
• Training aims at enabling farmers to acquire specific skills that are of immediate use.
  
  
• Extension aims at encouraging changes in farming practice, such as adopting biological pest control methods instead of using pesticides.

Key Questions

1. How should research be conducted? Considerations

2. How should smallholders be trained? Considerations

3. How should extension be provided? Considerations

More information:

Gearing research towards sustainability in smallholder systems

Redefining roles in sustainable agricultural service provision

Reference: 'Key Sheets' provided by the UK Government's Department for International Development. The purpose of these sheets is to provide decision makers with an easy and up-to-date point of reference on issues relating to the provision of support to smallholders. The following are available:
Agricultural research: www.odi.org.uk/keysheets/agres.pdf
Agricultural extension: www.odi.org.uk/keysheets/agrext.pdf