2. Acknowledgements
• The entire HSAD team, particularly those working in the
extension component, would like to recognize the
important contributions UCON had made to the
accomplishments achieved by extension. Extra special
thanks are due to Mrs. Andrea Bohn, for her
organizational and programmatic leadership and her
sense of dedication and commitment.
• I would like to personally extend my sincere thanks and
appreciations to the entire Extension family in the MoA.
Special thanks are to Mr. Faisal Kadhim for his wonderful
cooperation and support for the entire HSAD Extension
team.
3. The Primary objectives of the HSAD
Extension Component were:
1. To strengthen and modernize the Ministry of
Agriculture (MoA) delivery of extension
services.
2. Increase the breadth and depth of knowledge,
skills, and attitudes among extension staff; and
3.Utilize information and Communication
technologies in the provision of extension
services.
5. Dept. of Ag.
Extension &
Training
Department of
Agricultural
Research
Governorates
Department of
Agriculture No. 15
Extension
Centers No. 15
Sections of
Extension No. 15
Research
Stations No. 15
Extension Farms
No. 57
Extension Units
No. 226
Total Employees = 858
-Administrative = 461
-Technical = 397
No. of Extension
workers 552
7. •Proposal to strengthen coordination between DG
of Extension and Training, and Departments of
Extension in governorates. Also, to strengthen
coordination between Extension and Research in
MoA.
Accomplishments
8. Main elements contained in the proposal
- Agricultural researchers of the DG of Agricultural
Research to be released, on average 3 – 4 days a
month, to perform extension type activities.
-Each researcher selects 2–3 experienced
technicians working in experiment stations to
form a team.
- The team works closely with staff of Extension
Centers and Farms and with extension workers in
Departments of Agriculture in governorates. They
perform extension functions specified in a job
description.
9. - Members of the team receive incentives (25 % of
basic salary,) for the first year; to be increased in
subsequent years based or performance.
- The following job description is offered as a guide
to be followed by researchers and others for the
performance of their extension responsibilities. It
shall also be used for the purpose of preparing
the evaluation form for their performance.
10. 1. Conduct a comprehensive survey relative to the
area of specialization of the team in the
governorate where an experiment station is
located in order to identify major production
and other problems that can be resolved
through applied research.
2. Actively assist workers in Extension Centers and
Farms and in Departments of Agriculture in the
governorate in planning, implementing and
evaluating extension farm demonstrations.
11. 3. Conduct training programs for extension
workers and farmers to enhance the process of
disseminating and adopting agricultural
technologies.
4. Actively participate in field days conducted by
Extension Farms and Departments of Extension
in the governorate.
5. Prepare appropriate extension publications.
6.Periodically revise and renew information
contained in existing publications.
12. 7. Prepare an annual report with emphasis on:
a.Technologies that have been adopted by
farmers and their economic and social
benefits.
b.Number and type of extension activities
participated in and their expected outcomes.
•Recommendations to link universities (mainly
colleges of agriculture) with MoA research and
extension organizations.
13. Moving Forward
•Coordination and linkage mechanisms need to be
continuously pursued at two levels: Top down,
and Bottoms up.
•Patience and persistence are required. Change
doesn't take place overnight.
14. Increase the breadth and depth of
knowledge, skills and attitudes among
extension staff
Challenges
•Isolation (during 80’s and 90’s) and present
security conditions have rendered extension, as an
organization and staff, lacking behind in
knowledge, skills and attitudes essential for
effective extension work.
15. Accomplishments
•Enhanced knowledge, skills, and attitudes about
the organization, functions and delivery systems
of extension. Also, individual extension workers
are more energized about their role as agents of
change.
This was achieved, mainly through organized
training programs, observations, and personal
interactions with others.
16. - Twelve training programs for extension staff in:
•Communication
•Organization and planning
•Date palm production
•Orchard management
•Video production
•Information and communication technology
(ICT)
•Certified seed production
•Irrigation
•Conservation
17. - More than 350 extension staff participated.
- Forty – four training programs for farmers (888
participants).
- Of particular note was the participation of 3
extension staff in (ESEE), held in Antalya, Turkey,
September, 2013.
- Thirty – eight “tips & fact” sheets have been
translated and made available to extension staff.
- Video production manual has been translated and
distributed.
- Extension website developed and launched.
18. The department of extension has included in
its budget for 2015, and beyond, considerable
allocations for training extension personnel, inside
and outside Iraq. They are planning to seek the
assistance of international organizations, i.e. FAO,
ICARDA, and others to build upon what HSAD has
been able to achieve.
- Country wide extension baseline survey was
planned, developed and is being implemented in
15 provinces. Two thousand farmers will be
interviewed.
19. Utilize information and Communication
technologies in the provision of extension
services
Challenges
The primary hindrance to employing ICT in
extension has been the lack of awareness and
insufficient training of staff in its production and
proper us in the extension process.
20. HSAD is leaving behind an array of information utilizing
various forms of modern technologies, i.e. videos, CDs,
flash memories, power point presentations, manuals, fact
sheets, a website and more. Efforts were made to make
sure that information is disseminated to those who are in
position to make the most out of it. The most significant
technology in this regard was the creation of the new
extension website (www.iraq-irshad.net) and the training
of the core staff to update and maintain the site. Mr.
Awni, the extension website designer is being sent to
ICARDA’s communication department in Amman for a
week long training experience.
21. One of the main outcomes of HSAD’s
contributions in this area has been making Iraqi
extension staff, specialized in ICT, aware of the vast
network of resources available to them,
worldwide, to utilize and build upon what they
were able to accomplish during the past 20
months.
