Publications

One of the major challenges for Gabon is to achieve economic growth based on the sustainable development of its productive and renewable resources (agriculture, fisheries, forestry), particularly in its pursuit of a public programme of investment, supported by the private sector, in the agricultural sector.

This study was carried out in the Central African Republic by first identifying and examining public institutions, organizations, projects, non-governmental organizations and civil society organizations active in the region in the area of research and agricultural extension.

Environmental pollution and food insecurity issues have been surfacing in Egypt as a result of rapid population growth. Egypt’s agricultural extension service is working to alleviate problems related to population, environment and production. For the past nine years, one particular project has been assisting the rural population, through the integration of population and environment education messages into ongoing agricultural extension programmes. The project is funded jointly by the Government of Egypt and the United Nations Population Fund and technically supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

Agricultural extension is taking on new dimensions because of a global movement for reforming the national extension systems in developing countries. New learning needs of farming communities are emerging as the world enters into an era of globalization, privatization, decentralization and market-liberalization, while the traditional public extension services have not yet transformed in order to meet those needs satisfactorily. This publication addresses an increasing demand for practical, action-oriented guidelines which policy-makers could use in reforming extension systems.

The geographical location of farmers is one of the factors under consideration when strategies for client-oriented agricultural extension approaches are being outlined. A large number of men and women are engaged in farming in thousands of small, medium and large islands, and they need extension advice according to their unique situation. FAO has conducted several studies to identify extension and training needs of farmers living in different geographical locations such as mountains, desert and small islands. This publication is based on a study that was conducted in the island country of Samoa, located in the Pacific Ocean.