The Agricultural Extension System of Family Farm Schools in Cameroon | Chapter 05 | Perspectives of Arts and Social Studies Vol. 1
This chapter analyzes the extension
system used by Family Farm Schools in providing agricultural information to
farmers to alleviate rural poverty and hunger in Cameroon. It examines the
background of Family Farm Schools and the unemployment problem of school
leavers and advances the view that moving away from pure state paternalism to a
partnership between the state, private sector, NGOs, donors, civil society, and
rural communities in promoting of agricultural training and extension would
improve the asset levels and autonomy of rural youths. Data was obtained
through field observations, focus discussions and programme documents. The
conclusion highlights the unsatisfactory financial position of the Family Farm
Schools’ extension system and suggests the way forward to develop a newly conceived
policy agenda for agricultural training
and extension using
this system; adopt
a diversified and pluralistic
strategy for funding
the programme; build
a platform for
dialogue and collaboration with
the relevant extension service providers; and evaluate the programme within the
economic growth and
poverty reduction strategy for
government action. The agricultural extension techniques
propagated by Family Farm Schools are but one part of meeting the challenge of
poverty alleviation via education and self-employment. Equally demanding is the
task of developing structures and
support services that
will ensure that
eventual graduates have
opportunities to invest
in agriculture. This requires the setting up of a credible rural
development bank for providing financial services to farmers and concessions of
agricultural land of reasonable sizes to be acquired by the young farmers for
crop and livestock production. Other incentives like favourable prices, access
to markets, transport facilities, agricultural inputs and effective linkages
with agricultural research should be made available to encourage the young
farmers. Global developments require a new vision and the promotion of improved
best practices if agricultural extension systems are to be revitalized and made
more effective to meet the diverse needs of farmers. In the absence of these
efforts, innovative training and extension
systems may prepare
skilled youth who are committed
to agricultural development goals
but who have no means for effective
implementation of their action plans.
The development of agriculture is the key to alleviate rural poverty in
Cameroon. The youths need the right education and training to enable them participate
in farming as family business enterprises.
Author(s) Details
Fonteh Athanasius Amungwa
Associate Professor,
Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, Chair of Social Economy and
Family Management at the Higher Technical Teacher Training College, University
of Buea, Cameroon.
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