1. Good Practices in Extension Management for Central America John Preissing, Senior Extension Officer Research and Extension Branch (OEKR) Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations (FAO)

2. Justification and context 90’s Reduction or elimination of state services for technical assistance and technology transfer for small and medium producers Central American Agricultural Policy (2008-2017): An urgent need to strengthen technical capacities of the institutions targeted at small and medium farmers and strengthening ties between Central American agricultural innovation systems

3. First Intercontinental Meeting of GFRAS (Chile, Nov.10) recommends : The need to seek guidance and extension models that can contribute to improving the skills and capabilities among the most vulnerable populations and ensure food security for all. Justification and context (contd.) Recommendation from the FAO Sub-regional Office for Central America to implement the study

4. Support the Central American countries to document and systematize good practices on extension systems and methodologies » 18 case studies at the country level (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama) » Regional validation workshop » Key note presentation at GFRAS in Latin American meeting (Managua, Sept.11) » Publication » Paper and presentation at GFRAS International meeting (Nairobi, Nov. 11) Objective and results:

5. A good extension practice was defined: a mechanism, method, process or strategy that allows extension functions (technology transfer, development of human and social capital) to be more effective/ or efficient. It also contributes to the introduction of innovations to improve skills of the communities served and it supports the achievement of greater efficiency in the management of rural livelihoods and natural resources. Methodology Definition of Good Extension Practice

6. Methodology (contd.) Financing Information Technology and Communication Capacity Development Gender Decentralization Market Natural resource management / climate change Research and extension linkages Nutrition and health Communication and participatory approaches Others Themes to be analyzed

7. » Producer groups, producers, extension agents, technical agencies » Regional coordinator and national coordinators » National counterparts » Regional support (GFRAS/LA ~ RELASER) » FAO OEKR (Research and Extension Branch); FAO SLM (Sub regional Office for Central America); » FAO Representations: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and FAO Panamá » UE Food Facility (EUFF), FAO –SPFS, Special Programme for Food Security Methodology (contd.) Conceptual Framework Regional Consultant National Partners National Consultants Studies Compilation of Studies Regional Workshop Publication GFRAS Steps Partners

8. Country Case Study Good Practice Costa Rica Responsible management of water Association of coffee small-producers Meat agro- chain in Chorotega Natural Resources Capacity Development Marketing El Salvador Markets for sustainable agriculture in hill sides Inversión de la Mirada Family Farming (Agricultura Familiar) Markets and Nat. Resources Decentralization Nutrition and health Guatemala Micro-watershed management planning related to extension Community organizations (with their own system of extensionists) Capitalization of incentives to support innovation processes Participatory approaches Decentralization Financing Honduras Small coffee producers with a protected designation of origin Rural development experience with a regional focus Rural Credit Unions Marketing Natural Resources Financing Nicaragua Market of technologies Advice to rural grassroots' s organizations Rural promoters and farmer field schools Research and extension links Natural Resources Capacity Development Panamá Strengthening of human capital Participation of indigenous women in capacity development Rural micro-finance systems Capacity Development Gender Financing

9. Training in conservation agriculture in Guatemala Members of water society in Costa Rica Rural Credit Unions in Honduras

10. EXTENSIONIST AS INNOVATION BROKER PARTNERSHIPS AND COORDINATION OF ACTORS DEMAN DRIVEN EXTENSION DELIVERY SYSTEM PLUS-PLUS PARTNERHSIP EXTENSIONISTS ACCOUNTABLE TO SMALLHOLDERS PRODUCERS PROMOTING THE USE OF APPROPRIATE EXTENSION METHODOLOGIES

11. DEMAN DRIVEN EXTENSION DELIVERY SYSTEM Extension’s effectiveness increases with greater client participation in decision-making GUATEMALA: The community develops action plans through watershed diagnosis conducted with support from extension. This system of knowledge creation and sharing has a greater impact. Extension develop their work plans based on these results (Dpto. San Marco). EXTENSIONIST AS INNOVATION BROKER Traditional extension services must move towards rural advisory services that integrate different aspects such as farmer’s organizations, business management, added value, market integration and capacity development. HONDURAS: The role of the extension was key to organizing small coffee producers and to help form alliances between producers, processors, and the final market for their coffee with a protected designation of origin (Café Marcala)

12. PROMOTING THE USE OF APPROPRIATE EXTENSION METHODOLOGIES NICARAGUA: The Nicaraguan Institute of Technology Transfer is testing the combination of Farmer Field Schools (FFS) and rural promoters. Its aim is to increase the coverage by rural promoters and the effectiveness by using FFS. EXTENSIONISTS ACCOUNTABLE TO SMALLHOLDER PRODUCERS EL SALVADOR: In “ Invertir la Mirada” an approach is used where producers contract for services from extensionists spelling out deliverables. The extensionists learned and used new skills and are accountable to the producers.

13. PARTNERSHIPS AND COORDINATION OF ACTORS A multidimensional approach seeking participation of different actors in the agriculture innovation system (public and private, local) in order to access to new and more resources COSTA RICA: The role of extension was key to coordinating different actors including the Livestock Chamber, National Training Institute, and producers in the production of bovine meat in the agrifood chain of Chorotega PLUS-PLUS PARTNERHSIP In seeking partnerships there should be not just a win-win partnership, but a plus-plus, where the benefits are additive. PANAMA: Nestle, PROMEGA (university outreach programme) and the producers came together to achieve higher quality production with more affordable and timely inputs in dairy production

14. Discussion of results Enabling environment Organization level Individual level

16. » The status of the extension in the region should be reconsidered (new skills and roles that integrate different aspects such as farmer’s organizations, business management, added value, market integration and capacity development) » Extension should be strengthened by capacity development and institutional reform » The extension should consider comprehensive approaches based on the reality of the rural livelihoods, using medium to long term processes that should be able to adapt to new needs » Some Central American countries are at the right time for reforming and renewing their extension systems » Need for better tools to evaluate and measure the impact of extension e.g.: GFRAS evaluation manual; efficiency vs. efficacy of rural promoters Recommendations

17. » Use the findings for project design and implementation » Share the framework for future studies » Publication translated into English » Dissemination of the results » Analysis of rural promoters For the future

18. THANKS! [email_address]