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 Summary of
Papers
from National
Symposium can be
«downloaded
 Looking back the history of agricultural
extension approaches practicing in Myanmar,
various farmer-led extension approaches were
being applied by the government
organizations, non-governmental
organizations and UN agencies. However, all
of the stakeholders have never sit together
and discussed on that matter to strengthen
capacities of the local farmers and promote
their empowerment. Therefore, Food Security
Working Group and World Concern Myanmar
jointly organized a National Symposium on
“Farmer-led Agricultural Extension
Approaches in Myanmar” in Yangon on 28-30
May 07.
The objectives of the symposium focus around
reflection, learning, and looking for ways
how organizations can do things better, each
of them in their own work, and together as a
body of agencies working on agricultural
extension. Major objectives of the symposium
are as follows:
1. To
facilitate exchange and learning between
agencies active in farmer-led agricultural
extension, including local and
international
NGOs, UN agencies and government agencies
2. To identify
relative strengths of various farmer-led
extension approaches practiced in Myanmar
3. To identify
areas where approaches and policies can be
improved, particularly from the viewpoint of
bottom-up farmer
participation
The symposium has gathered more than 70
participants representing the farmer
beneficiaries the governmental services (Yezin
Agriculture University, Department of
Agriculture Research, MAS, MICDE, CARTC,
DAP), the UN Agencies (ICDP/UNDP, CRDT/UNOPS/UNDP,
FAO, WFP), the National NGO (Metta
Development Foundation, Karuna Myanma Social
Services, Motive, REAM, MBC) and the
International NGO (CARE, World Concern, GRET,
NHF).
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Food Security Working Group (FSWG)
is enhancing opportunities for
participation of its members and
partners in reflecting, sharing
learning, and looking for ways
to improve support to the
farmers and communities in their
efforts to ensure their food
security. |
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FSWG organized the national symposium on
Farmer-Led Agricultural Extension Approaches
which would be a milestone towards exchanges
and cooperation among the different
stakeholders (i.e. governmental services, UN
agencies, National and International NGO). |
 The symposium has been successfully led by
three chair persons representing the
governmental services, the UN agencies and
the NGO. A team of five facilitators has
been highly involved in the working group
sessions and has ensured the participation
of all stakeholders in defining the
strengths, weaknesses and recommendations
related to Farmer Led Agricultural Extension
Approaches (FLAE).
Based on the presentation papers submitted,
the symposium was organized in five main
sessions: 1) Overview and evolution of FLAE
approaches worldwide, 2) Farmer to Farmer
Extension Approaches, 3) Farmer Field School
Approaches, 4) Other Farmer Led Extension
approaches and 5) Areas of improvement and
Recommendations for future Actions.
Throughout the symposium, the diversity of
papers has been presented to learn about the
Farmer Led extension approaches in Myanmar
and South East Asia. The participants have
been able to express their views and
comments on the symposium. They also
expressed their high satisfaction to get
this opportunity to learn and exchanges on
Farmer Led Agricultural Extension approaches
and to build relationship with other
stakeholders.
During the symposium, working groups were
organized in order to initiate a
brainstorming on the strengths, the
weaknesses and suggestions for improving the
extension approaches.
Participants provided their own learning and
opinions to enhance exchanges and enrich the
outcomes of the working group.
 On the third day, the working group session
provided opportunities to the participants
for proposing areas of improvement and
recommendations for future actions.
Three key note speakers presented
experiences and learning on FLAE approaches
in South East Asia and in Myanmar:
- On the first
day, John Connell, CIAT, presented
experiences and methods on “Farmer
Participation in Technology and Market
Development”
- On the second
day, Daw Heather Morris, Technical Advisor,
World Concern, presented “Farmer Field
School Approaches in Myanmar”
- On the third
day, Sam Vitou, Training Director of CEDAC,
presented “CEDAC’s Approaches in Building
Farmer Led Agriculture-Extension and
Network”
Mr. Jan van der Lee, the steering committee
member of the FSWG presented the overview of
symposium and objectives on first day of the
symposium.
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The history of agricultural extension has
shown us how important participation of
farmers is in the design of our extension
systems. Indeed, agricultural extension
services should have the farmer and her
interests firmly in the center of attention,
taking farmer interests as starting point
and as measuring stick in every step of the
process. This is not a new idea; indeed it
has informed the actions of many of you for
many years.
Jan van der Lee,
Technical
Advisor, World Concern Myanmar |
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