The need for reform of public extension systems in Africa

Abstract

Extension services are crucial for the rapid spreading of research results to farmers and transmitting information about farmers’ needs, circumstances, and problems to researchers. Although public extension organizations are the norm in Africa, these public extension systems are often inadequately funded and their effectiveness is limited by many administrative and design deficiencies and challenges. This paper stresses the need for reform for public sector extension in Africa by reviewing some of the problems associated with public sector extension systems and the reforms that are required.

Key words: Public sector extension, problems, needed reforms, Africa.