How Do You Do Excellent Extension For Filipino Farmers? Here Is An Excellent Lesson From Australian Collaborating With Philippine Scientists Via DoST

I am reading a UP Mindanao report containing a good simultaneous lesson for the Department of Science & Technology (DoST) and the Department of Agriculture (DA); from me: “Extension is promotion of process for people.”

Via Facebook, here is the latest news from the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD), a DoST agency, by Paul Jersey G Leon: “Bringing Hope To Conflict-Vulnerable Communities In Mindanao Through Agricultural Extension” (14 Jan 2022, PCAARRD.dost.gov.ph):

An alternative agricultural extension model has been giving a ray of hope to six conflict-vulnerable, geographically isolated, and disadvantaged communities in South Cotabato, Maguindanao, and Zamboanga Sibugay. This was the highlight of the paper, “Giving Farmers Uwen Fananafedew: Improving Agricultural Extension Policy In Conflict-Vulnerable Areas Through The Livelihood Improvement Through Facilitated Extension (LIFE) Model,” which was implemented by the team of Dr Emma Ruth V Bayogan of the University of the Philippines Mindanao. (Note: I googled “Uwen Fananafedew,” no luck.)

“Alternative agricultural extension model” – I’m imagining now with the DA’s Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) adapting the LIFE Model, ATI could revolutionize & render vibrant agricultural extension in all Philippines.

The LIFE Model of Extension was actually initiated by the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technologyin Melbourne, Australia, and implemented in Mindanao with the LandCare Foundation of the Philippines, University of the Philippines Mindanao, University of the Philippines Los Baños, and DoST.

(The LIFE Model is) an agro-enterprise development program hinged on facilitating farmers’ access to technical innovations, building community social capital, and collaborating effectively with local institutions through facilitated extension.

The LIFE Model simplified farmers’ access to technical innovations, helped build social networks, and eased the collaboration of local institutions – for farmers’ common benefits. “Facilitated extension” means “held the hands of.” A teacher, I love facilitated extension!

The LIFE project started in 2013 in 3 sites: Zamboanga Sibugay, Maguindanao, and South Cotabato; succeeding, it expanded to 10 sites in 2017.

Ms Emma Ruth presented her UP Mindanao report during the National Symposium on Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (NSAARRD), where NSAARRD adjudged it “Best R&D Paper (Development Category)” during the “S&T Awards and Recognition” ceremony held 29 Nov 2021.

South Cotabato and Maguindanao farmers learned to grow vegetables while Zamboanga Sibugay farmers improved their knowledge and skills on seaweed farming; (also, Sibugay) farmers grew eggplant and tomato in containers. Through the Farmers’ Field School (FFS), farmers also improved their organizational skills.

The FFS helped the farmers organize themselves – thank you, UP Mindanao for discovering/encouraging a new/exciting role of the FFS!

I love how Jessa Jael S Arana summarizes the methodology of the LIFE Model, saying (02 Jul 2021, “Research Collab Brings LIFE To PH Conflict Areas,” UPLB.edu.ph):

This is through an innovative extension model that combines farmer education with community building and institutional partnerships.

At heart an extensionist, I have come to the conclusion that those 17 words capture how we should conduct agricultural extension from now on in – and out – of conflict areas!@517

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