The latest research from Dr. Tran Anh Thong, a Senior Researcher of HAPRI's team
The Lower Mekong Basin (LMB) countries of Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam are undergoing significant agrarian transitions, driven by both external and internal forces. These transitions are reshaping agricultural systems and rural livelihoods, while simultaneously presenting new challenges for agricultural extension services.
Drivers of agrarian transitions and implications for agricultural extension in the case study countries
The study reveals that these countries are undergoing significant changes in their agricultural systems, driven by factors such as climate change, infrastructure development, and global market pressures. This transition process is creating new challenges for farmers as well as extension systems.
Based on interviews with experts, the paper analyzes how extension systems are attempting to adapt to emerging needs. The authors argue that traditional extension models have failed to adequately address current demands, emphasizing the necessity for new, more diverse approaches in agricultural extension.
The article also highlights the role of 'champions' in driving innovation, exemplified by the Metkasekor model in Cambodia. The authors conclude that recognizing and legitimizing pluralistic extension approaches, involving multiple stakeholders, will be key to enhancing extension effectiveness in the context of ongoing agrarian transitions.
This research contributes to a broader understanding of how agricultural extension can evolve to meet the changing needs of farming communities in the face of complex regional and global pressures. It offers valuable insights for policymakers and practitioners seeking to improve agricultural and rural development strategies in Southeast Asia and beyond.
KEYWORDS:
Agrarian transitions
Agricultural extension
Climate change
Knowledge transfer
Mainland Southeast Asia
Rural development
Citation:
Tran, T. A., & Touch, V. (2024). How agricultural extension responds to amplified agrarian transitions in mainland Southeast Asia: experts’ reflections. Agriculture and Human Values, 1-17. 10.1007/s10460-024-10577-0
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