Study of rural and agricultural organizations and services to agriculture in the OECS countries

Baron Vincent. 2006. Study of rural and agricultural organizations and services to agriculture in the OECS countries. Montpellier : CIRAD, 78 p. N° de rapport : CIRAD-TERA N°11-06

Résumé : Today agriculture remains an essential sector in the economic and social development of the sub-region, despite an apparent decline in contribution to GDP. When all aspects of agriculture are taken into consideration, including non-merchant economic transactions, its actual contribution is considerably greater. Producers face many challenges in their efforts to improve their standard of living, enhance production and quality to meet the requirements for the supply of the local residents and visitors. Efforts are concentrated on pursuing agriculture in a sustainable manner against the background of limited arable land due to the small size of most of the countries and the competition for land, water and labour for agriculture with the tourism and real estate developments. Agricultural researchers and extension workers have to rise to these challenges and devise effective technologies that are appropriate to the particular farming systems. Internationally the use of participatory methods, in which the farmer is involved at all stages, is proving effective it the development and transfer of applicable measures to address constraints to production. The challenge of establishing effective collaboration between the three main actors (extension, research and farmers) will be facilitated by: - the joint definition of territorial and local development priorities and the demand of key stakeholders on which matters relating to specific research activities can be based; the implementation of effective frameworks for collaboration between research and extension which include structured farmers' organisations at least two geographic levels (the village and small region); - the ability of farmers' organisations to mobilise funds to provide incentives to research; - the development and implementation of training modules on: the benefits of partnerships; improving communication and dialogue between the different actors; and increasing the awareness of researchers and extension agents regarding the demands of farmers' organisations; - the implementation of effective communication systems between research, extension, and farmers' organisations, so as to inform the organisations on the services that research and extension can offer, and, especially, with a view to encouraging the joint construction of farmers' organisation requests; - the ability of extension services to redefine their approach so that it is more responsive to the specific needs of farmers' organisations; - strengthening the ability of research to form multidisciplinary research teams using proven participatory methodologies, and improving capitalisation on the skills of systemic agronomists, geographic and social scientists.

Auteurs et affiliations

• Baron Vincent, CIRAD-TERA-UPR Politiques et marchés (FRA)

Source : Cirad - Agritrop (https://agritrop.cirad.fr/531172/)

Métriques

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