FAO.org

This FAO special issue presents innovations related to the approaches, tools and methods with case studies and examples of climate risk management and resilience building in agriculture. It contains contributions from 42 authors representing 21 organizations and institutes around the world. 
Edited by Selvaraju Ramasamy, PhD
Head, Research and Extension Unit (OINR)

Why must we enhance linkages between research, extension and producers?

Between present disruptions and future threats to the food supply chain, the COVID-19 outbreak has generated extreme vulnerability in the agriculture sector. It is therefore crucial to mobilize all available instruments, institutions and stakeholders from both public and private sectors and civil society to ensure an appropriate and timely response.

Agricultural Extension and Advisory Service (EAS) systems play an indispensable role at the frontline of the response to the pandemic in rural areas. However, in order to adapt to the emergency context within the government regulations, EAS providers need to rapidly change their way of operating.

This brochure on Global Knowledge Product provides an update of work carried out in 2020 on the development of some selected strategies, guidelines for assessment of innovation systems, strategies for promoting agricultural innovation and knowledge portals for sharing of technologies and good practices that integrate sustainable agricultural production and food security. The development of knowledge products contributes to FAO’s strategic objective on making agriculture, forestry and fisheries more productive and sustainable.

This publication contains twelve modules which cover a selection of major reform measures in agricultural extension being promulgated and implemented internationally, such as linking farmers to markets, making advisory services more demand-driven, promoting pluralistic advisory systems, and enhancing the role of advisory services within agricultural innovation systems.