Promoting participatory agricultural extension in the Pacific

The Pacific Extension Summit, the first of its kind in the region, was set-up to strengthen support for Participatory Agricultural Extension (PAE) in the Pacific through promoting participatory approaches to identify problems and needs within the agriculture. Its goal was to examine past extension practice and chart a course for the future whereby agricultural extension would be more responsive to the needs of farmers in the region and more inclusive of marginalised groups such as women and youth.

Now there is an opportunity if ever we heard one! The process of reflection on Pacific agricultural extension is still ongoing with plans for the next Summit in the pipeline. This would appear to be an excellent opportunity to raise awareness about the need for more youth oriented extension.

Contact the coordinator of the Information, Communication and Extension (ICE) group Land Resources Division, SPC for more information.

FAO's Special Programme for Food Security

The FAO also run the regional Special Programme for Food Security in the region that could offer options for improving agricultural extension services for youth. FAO also operate the South-to-South Cooperation scheme that might have options for improving youth involvement in agriculture.

FAO also run a Future Farmers programme in some Pacific Island countries.

TELEFOOD, building solidarity to end world hunger

The FAO's TeleFood campaign has generated over US$ 20 million in donations and some of these funds have been used to support youth projects. The TeleFood Special Fund finances grassroot-level micro projects that help small-scale farmers produce more food and generate cash income, for better access to food. Project categories range from crop production to fish and animal production, including support to school garden initiatives and apiculture. The budget of each project does not exceed $10 000 and a duration of 12 months. Telefood projects are proposed by FAO member governments and approved by FAO’s technical experts. Although small in scale and cost, TeleFood projects have been making the difference in the lives of small-scale farming communities.