Techniques of Transfer of New Knowledge to African Women Farmers through Extension

Abstract

Women are variously estimated to provide 70 percent of total agricultural labour and to be responsible for at least 70 percent of staple food production in Africa. This is in addition to other agricultural activities such as storage, processing, marketing of food and cash crops, and livestock production. This paper reviews some of the ways of reaching women farmers with new knowledge through extension. Some of the recommendations made are that research and extension should be adapted to women’s needs, the content of extension services to women farmers should be improved, and more women should be recruited and trained to provide services in the public and private sectors of extension.

Keywords: women farmers, transfer, messages, extension, Africa.