Re-orienting and strengthening of rural extension for PRDP in Africa

Abstract

Most African countries depend on the rural sector for the development and strength of their economies. Agriculture has, by and large, served as the backbone of the economy in these countries. This means that the Performance of each country's economy depends, to a large extent, on the performance of the agricultural sector. Rural development Initiatives undertaken by governments have generally utilized existing extension systems. Such efforts have been guided by conventional extension philosophy and practice. Conventional extension, as practiced in most African countries, has been inherited from colonial times. Agriculture has, in many countries, been the most favored by an elaborate extension system compared to the rest of the rural sector. However, even then, agricultural production in a number of countries has been falling or performing unstably over the years. Where there has been an up turn in production its sustainability has been rather elusive.