Blog 001

Advising farmers

Agricultural extension workers

Extension workers usually work for government agencies. They work with local communities to offer advice and deliver information to farmers about input products. There are technology extension units in national research institutes and local agricultural universities.

Extension workers often have good access to government-level advice about products, their availability, registration and the regulations farmers should be aware of around their use.

Agro-input dealers

Agro-input dealers sell input products directly to farmers. They are often an important source of information for farmers about what products are locally available, how they should be applied and the interpretation of results in the field.

Agro-input dealers are well-placed to share local knowledge among farmers, as they are likely to sell input products to many local farmers. This is especially helpful for bioprotection products, as their level of effectiveness depends on them being widely used.

Private marketing executives

Private marketing executives, field extension workers and education units also provide advice to farmers about specific products and their application. Advice from these sources may be about specific products.

Farmer-to-farmer extension

Farmers can also share experiences of using different management practices with neighbouring farmers. Sharing these experiences helps farmers understand how practices and products can be applied and results assessed, building confidence in their use and adoption.