1. Agricultural Extension Service Policy in Ethiopia
By:
Kidanemariam B. Hailu
MEP10105
Country: Ethiopia
Instructor at Aksum University
July 2011

2. 1. Overview of the Agricultural Sector in Ethiopia
• Ethiopian population is about 80 mil, 3rd Populated
from Africa.
• Majority (84%) of the population live in the rural areas
• The economy is predominantly agrarian
• Agriculture accounts for about
46% of GDP
85% of Employment
90 % of Export Earning,
Since 2004/5 the average growth rate of agr. has been about 8% per year
Of the total agral value added: crop, livestock and forestry, respectively, contribute 60%, 27% and 13%.

3. But, still characterized by low productivity and has been unable to produce sufficient quantities to feed the population (Tewodaj et al., 2009).
Factors that contribute to the low level of productivity
low level of adoption of modern agricultural inputs
use of traditional tools and farming practices
land degradation and frequent drought
Totally rain-fed agriculture

4. 2. Agricultural Extension Service in Ethiopia
Extension service started in Ethiopia since 1953 and has passed at least five stages
Land grant extension system Imperial Regime
Comprehensive Package Programs ( )
Minimum Package Projects
Peasant Agricultural Development Program- Military Regime ( )
Participatory Demonstration and Training Extension Systems (PADETES)- Current Regime (since 1995-present)

5. Lessons learned from the past extension service
absence of participation of the very people for whom they have been designed.
lack of complementary institutional support services such as input supply and credit services.
was biased against the livestock subsector.
was accessible to farmers located only a few kilometers from both sides of all weather roads.
emphasis was given to few producers, cooperatives and state farms

6. Agricultural Extension under the Current Government
After coming to power in 1991, the current government adopted Agricultural Development Led Industrialization Strategy (ADLI) in 1994.
Within the framework of ADLI, a new extension approach, PADETES has been adopted in 1995.
PADETES aimed at (Berhanu, 2006);
increasing productivity and production of smallholders
empowering farmers to be active participants in the development process
increasing food self-sufficiency, increasing the supply of raw materials for domestic use and export
enhancing the rehabilitation and conservation of natural resource base, and encouraging farmer organizations.

7. The principle of PADETES is that it is agro-ecology based and followed a package approach
The program initially started with technology packages for wheat, maize, sorghum and teff in high rainfall areas.
Later, it expanded its area coverage and number of technology packages (livestock, high value crops, post harvest technology, and agro-forestry).
Components of the Extension package
crop production packages (cereals, pulses, fruits and vegetables) including crop protection and irrigation
livestock production technologies (feeds, modern beehives, dairy, fattening, animal health, fishery, poultry, apiculture)
natural resources management (agro-forestry, soil conservation and water harvesting)

8. 3. Policy Framework and Organization of the Extension Service
ADLI
National Policy Framework to maintain national food security and improving rural livelihoods
At Federal level, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MoARD) is responsible for
formulating national extension intervention related policies,
coordinating interregional extension, and
providing technical advice and training services
Providing financial support
MoARD
BoARD
At the Regional State level, Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Development (BoARD) is responsible for
implementation of the PADETES through its district and local level offices
WOARD
Woreda (district) level Office of Agriculture and Rural Development (WOARD)
Kebele
Kebele is the smallest administration unit in Ethiopia

9. At woreda level, extension activities are handled by a team composed of
an extension team leader
an extension and training expert
experts in crop production, livestock production, and natural resource management.

10. Drip irrigation Modern beekeeping
PADETES is based on demonstrating technologies and training farmers on agricultural technologies
For this reason, one farmers training center (FTC) is established in each Kebele
Drip irrigation Modern beekeeping
Sample FTC in Tigrai Region (adopted from Molla, 2009)

11. The FTCs serve as
centers of extension service and information
places where modular training to farmers are given
demonstration of entrepreneurship
To realize this, three Development Agents (DAs), one each in the areas of crop production, livestock production and natural resource management are placed at each FTC.
To deliver knowledge, PADETES makes use of farm visit, farm and home visit, use of model farmers, demonstration of farm technology and demonstration plots and mass media approaches.

12. 4. Analysis of systems Framework and Working Components
Participatory Demonstration and Training Extension Systems
Agricultural Technical and Vocational Education and Training
Farmers Training Centers
Institutional coordination

13. Systems/Management and Linkages
new actors, policies, technologies, and relationships are affecting the system
but, still the public sector is the single most important player
Participation of the private sector and NGOs is weak.
research-extension linkage increasing
Mind-sets and Capabilities
mind-set changes among research and extension staffs and farmers
Capacity is a major issue within the extension system
The DA position suffers from high turnover
DAs and other extension staff have limited skills relating to innovation, networking, social learning, policies, farmer group development, and negotiation
use of DAs for non-extension activities such as credit distribution and repayment collection

14. Infrastructure and Resources
FTCs should be the focal point for all the actors within the innovation system
However, they suffer from lack of modern equipments
Lack of transportation facilities
They need monitoring and support
Enabling Environment
policies are often formulated and implemented without due regard to farmers’
distribution channels and institutions are weak
lack of input and output markets
lack of inputs or their high prices and late delivery (due to lack of coordination)

15. Institutional Environment
Various actors and institutions play important role in the extension system
Major govt ministries include MoARD, Ministry of Trade , Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Capacity Building, Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health, and Ministry of Transport and Communications
Regional, woreda and kebele institutions
Other institutions such as farmers’ cooperatives for input supply or marketing, community-based organizations, NGOs, private firms (such as traders or transporters), and microfinance institutions .
Well integration and coordination of these institutions lead to the success of the extension system

16. 5. Effectiveness of PADETES
Reached many farmers equitably (35-40% of the farmers in Ethiopia)
Increased productivity in some cases
About 8,489 FTCs established throughout Ethiopia, and about 62,764 DAs have been trained in total, with a reported 45,812 staffed on location.
Increased production of grains
Increased numbers of participating households in extension packages
Many farmers became millionaires under this system (Model farmers).
Increased use of fertilizer and improved seed
Diversification of farm enterprises
Generally, Studies (example Dercon et al. 2008) shows poverty level of the participant households decreased.

17. Reasons for the encouraging results could be
Countrywide enabling environment in which extension operates
Strong foundation of FTCs
train DAs and farmers
entrepreneurialism and innovation exist
Agricultural technical and vocational education
Institutional coordination
linked PADETES with credit, cooperative and marketing support
Consistent policy (PADETES) with strong believe of the gov’t that change could only come through PADETES.
Considered agro-ecology variance

18. Irrigation farmland of Potato, wheat and barley of model farmer in Tigrai, 2009
Modern house of participant household in Tigrai Cross-breed milk cow dev’t package in Tigrai

19. Table 1: Trends of production and productivity
Year
Total production in tones
Area in hectare
productivity
(tones per hectare)
% of area covered by improved seeds
Fertilizer applied in tones
% of area covered by fertilizer
1994/95
1.03
0.61
184126
27.70
1995/96
1.31
0.71
256217
31.43
1996/97
1.20
1.87
264579
32.23
1997/98
1.98
235882
34.47
1998/99
2.68
389104
38.60
1999/2000
1.21
3.61
432966
38.81
2000/01
1.23
4.22
341493
37.85
2001/02
1.40
2.99
258178
8.4
2002/03
1.02
------
2003/04
1.33
3.67
388251
40.22
2004/05
3.18
454966
41.79
CSA, 2005

20. However, the very critical point to be raised here is whether these changes are really sufficient to significantly increase agricultural productivity and production levels
About 40% of the total population is still undernourished
Effectiveness of PADETES has been largely measured in terms of the number of farmers participating in the extension program.
Number of annual target beneficiaries is compared against accomplishments to evaluate the effectiveness/ performance of the extension package program.
Fulfillment of quotas still remained a criterion in DAs performance evaluation.

21. 6. Impact of the Program on Poverty in Tigrai (by Kidu, 2010)
ATT= Expenditure of participants minus that of non-participants
Table 2: ATT Estimation Results of Food and Total Expenditures

22. Table 3: ATT Estimation Results of household Investment on human capital

23. Table 4: ATT Estimation Results of Household Productive assets

24. 7. Problems that Need attention
Performance measures are largely input based, not output/outcome based
Still top-down and non-participatory approach dominates
Predominantly supply driven approach
Limitations in infrastructure facilities, marketing chain and inputs
Limited participation by women farmers
DAs use coercion to involve farmers to fulfill quota
DAs are involved in several non-extension activities, including credit distribution and collection of repayments

25. Thank You!!