Módulo 03: Gestión de programas de extensión agraria

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Over the years, agricultural extension has moved towards a participatory approachparticipatory approachDefinition: An approach where farmers or stakeholders are included in the decision making process....
. This has created a need for extension organisations to be more responsive to those using their services. Economic crises have triggered a need for increased accountability, restructuringrestructuringDefinition: Changing the way management within an organisation is structured, or changing the way a programme is managed....
 and reform in agricultural extension since the early 1990s. At the national level, inappropriate public extension policies, limited public funds, lack of accountability, and growing rural poverty have prompted developing countries to re-examine the relevance of agricultural extension in rural development.

Agricultural extension faces the challenge of establishing a well-managed, effective, and accountable system that meets the needs of many farmers engaged in diversediverseDefinition: Made up of different farming systems....
 and complex farming systems, as well as effectively monitoring, evaluating and assessing the impact of extension services. These challenges are the result of how dependent extension is on the performance of the agricultural research system and its feedback linkages as well as the inherent problems in ensuring political commitment and the economic sustainability of agricultural extension.

This module has been designed to introduce extensionists to the key terms and concepts required to understand agricultural extension programme management and to begin building the knowledge, skills and attitudes they require to manage extension effectively.

Overview

Module outcomes

After completing this module, you will be able to:

  1. List the theories and explain the practice of agricultural extension management:
    • Describe the basic concepts of extension programme management; and
    • Describe the theories, principles, process and functions of a good manager
  2. Differentiate between approaches to management strategies or extension organisations:
    • Describe the various extension approaches and elaborate on the implications for organisational management.
  3. Explain the concept and relevance of leadership, motivation, and group dynamics in management:
    • Explain what leadership is;
    • List the qualities of good leadership;
    • Explain how to motivate employees within your organisation;
    • Describe group dynamics to improve performance standards;
    • Explain how to reduce conflicts within a group; and
    • Explain how establish guidelines and consensus to improve teamwork.
  4. Describe the importance of agricultural extension programmes and the process of programme planning:
    • Describe the basic concepts of extension programmes; and
    • Describe the programme planning process.
  5. Explain the importance of farmer involvement and apply the tools of programme planning:
    • Explain the basic mechanisms of agricultural markets; and
    • Explain the benefits of stakeholder involvement in planning successful programmes.
  6. Create an action plan for your time management process and identify ways to evaluate and improve your efforts:
    • Describe your goals;
    • Analyse how you are currently allocating your energy and time;
    • Identify elements of your personal work style that contribute to your effective use of time; and
    • Gather a collection of time management tools and strategies that you can use to take control of your time.
  7. Explain the relevance of human resource management:
    • Explain the basic concepts of supervision, staffing and appraisal; and
    • Describe the combinations of the management functions for effective personnel management.
  8. Explain the importance of coordination and control within a pluralistic system of extension:
    • Explain the need for coordination and control for effective organisational management; and
    • Apply the tools of coordination and control within your organisation.
  9. Explain the management information system and its role in organisational management:
    • Explain basic information system concepts as applied to business operations and management; and
    • Work with the MIS staff to make technical decisions
  10. Explain how large-scale computer application systems can assist with business management and operations.
  11. Explain the concept of MELS and its application for effective organisational management:
    • Define evaluation and monitoring processes in extension;
    • Explain the importance and characteristics of evaluation in extension;
    • Identify the uses of evaluation;
    • Explain the meaning of monitoring processes and their indicators; and
    • Identify the methods used in monitoring extension activities and give various examples of indicators of extension.

What to expect

Study units
Name Total videos Total assessments
Study unit 1: Theories and practice of agricultural extension management 0 3
Study unit 2: Approaches to management strategies of extension organisations 0 3
Study unit 3: Leadership, motivation and group dynamics 2 3
Study unit 4: Extension programmes and programme planning 0 4
Study unit 5: Managing organisational change and conflict resolution 1 3
Study unit 6: Involvement of farmers and tools in programme planning 0 3
Study unit 7: Time management 0 3
Study unit 8: Human resource management 0 3
Study unit 9: Coordination and control in agricultural extension management 0 4
Study unit 10: Management information systems 0 4
Study unit 11: Monitoring and evaluation 0 3

Click on the button below to start Module 3:

Introduction

Study unit 1: Theories and practice of agricultural extension management

Study unit outcomes

After completing this study unit, you should be able to:

  • Describe the basic concepts of extension programme management; an
  • Describe the theories, principles, processes and functions of a good manager.

Study unit overview

This study unit provides an introduction to the core definitions of extension programme management and the theories, practices and processes involved in extension programme management.

This study unit is divided into the following sections:

  • Introduction
  • Session 1.1: Definition, theories and principles of management
  • Session 1.2: Functions of management
  • Conclusion

Click on the button below to start the lesson for Study Unit 1:

Study Unit 1

Study unit 2: Approaches to management strategies of extension organisations

Study unit outcomes

After completing this study unit, you should be able to:

  • Explain the various extension management approaches; and
  • Explain the relevance of private and public funded extension.

Study unit overview

This unit provides an overview of the various management strategies in the different agricultural extension systems that have existed or currently exist within our various contexts.

This study unit is divided into the following sections:

  • Introduction
  • Session 2.1: Publicly funded extension systems
  • Session 2.2: Privately funded extension systems
  • Conclusion

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Study Unit 2

Study unit 3: Leadership, motivation and group dynamics

Study unit outcomes

After completing this study unit, you should be able to:

  • Define leadership;
  • Explain the qualities of good leadership;
  • Explain how to motivate employees within your organisation;
  • Explain how group dynamics can improve performance standards;
  • Explain how conflict in a group can be reduced; and
  • Establish guidelines and consensus to improve teamwork.

Study unit overview

People working in an extension organisation need to participate willingly and harmoniously, and be motivated to achieve the objectives of the organisation. Poor leadership can undo the work that has gone into planning, staffing and organisation, and make it impossible to achieve the objectives of the organisation.

This study unit is divided into the following sections:

  • Introduction
  • Session 3.1: Leadership
  • Session 3.2: Work group dynamics and creativity
  • Conclusion

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Study Unit 3

Study unit 4: Extension programmes and programme planning

Study unit outcomes

After completing this study unit, you should be able to:

  • Describe the basic concepts of extension programmes; and
  • Describe the programme planning process.

Study unit overview

This unit provides an introduction to the core definitions of extension programmes, components, programme planning and the stages involved in extension programme planning.

This study unit is divided into the following sections:

  • Introduction
  • Session 4.1: The importance of extension programmes and planning
  • Session 4.2: Extension programmes, types, assumptions and principles
  • Session 4.3: Programme development cycle and steps in programme planning
  • Conclusion

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Study Unit 4

Study unit 5: Managing organisational change and conflict resolution

Study unit outcomes

After completing this study unit, you should be able to:

  • Describe various challenges that come with change; and
  • Explain how to manage the conflicts related to these changes.

Study unit overview

Any time your organisation takes initiative to change something, managers can expect conflict to arise. Change can be stressful, even when it is for the better. Frequently, a bit of uncertainty is attached and at times individuals show resistance to change even when they will not be negatively affected. It is this resistance that leads to conflicts related to organisational change. Managing transitions and the conflicts that erupt during these transitions is an important management function and this is what this unit is all about.

This study unit is divided into the following sections:

  • Introduction
  • Session 5.1: Organisational change
  • Session 5.2: Conflicts and conflict management
  • Conclusion

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Study Unit 5

Study unit 6: Involvement of farmers and tools in programme planning

Study unit outcomes

After completing this study unit, you should be able to:

  • Explain the importance of stakeholder involvement in extension programme planning; and
  • Describe market types, market linkage methods and where value chains are situated within global market systems.

Study unit overview

This unit provides an introduction to the core economic concepts required to understand market processes and where value chains are situated within global market systems.

This study unit is divided into the following sections:

  • Introduction
  • Session 6.1: Involving stakeholders in planning extension programmes
  • Session 6.2: Tools in programme planning
  • Conclusion

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Study Unit 6

Study unit 7: Time management

Study unit outcomes

After completing this study unit, you should be able to:

  • State your goals;
  • Analyse how you are currently allocating your energy and time;
  • Identify elements of your personal work style that contribute to your effective use of time;
  • Assemble a collection of time management tools and strategies that you can use to take control of your time; and
  • Create an action plan for your time management process and identify ways to evaluate and improve your efforts.

Study unit overview

In this unit, you will get to understand the concept of time management and practice techniques that will help you use your time more effectively so that you can direct energy towards activities that will further your professional and personal goals.

Much like money, time is both valuable and limited. It must be protected, used wisely, and budgeted. People who practice good time management techniques often find that they:

  • Are more productive;
  • Have more energy for things they need to accomplish;
  • Feel less stressed;
  • Are able to do the things they want;
  • Get more things done; and
  • Relate more positively to others.

This study unit is divided into the following sections:

  • Introduction
  • Session 7.1: Good time management and defining goals
  • Session 7.2: Analysing energy allocation
  • Session 7.3: Identifying personal style
  • Conclusion

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Study Unit 7

Study unit 8: Human resource management

Study unit outcomes

After completing this study unit, you should be able to:

  • Describe the basic concepts of supervision, staffing, and appraisal; and
  • Describe combinations of the management functions for effective personnel management.

Study unit overview

This unit is an introduction to the human resources function and related elements and activities. The unit outlines the roles and functions of members of the human resources department. Emphasis is placed on the modern day importance of human resource management (HRM) and the new corporate view of the function.

You will be exposed to practical situations where there is a need for employee counseling, discipline and termination. You must understand the role of HRM in providing these services to you or to those who work under you.

This study unit is divided into the following sections:

  • Introduction
  • Session 8.1: Human resource management functions
  • Session 8.2: Legal implications of human resource management
  • Conclusion

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Study Unit 8

Study unit 9: Coordination and control in agricultural extension management

Study unit outcomes

After completing this study unit, you should be able to:

  • Justify the need for coordination and control for effective organisational management; and
  • Apply the tools of coordination and control within your organisation.

Study unit overview

Coordination means getting the various job roles and responsibilities of yourself, the staff in your unit, staff in other units in the same organisation and the broader community to work in harmony. The control function completes the process of management by measuring accomplishment against plans. This unit discusses the nature of coordination and control, and how these could be used to make sure that resources are not wasted in achieving the overall organisational and national goals of extension in a time where pluralism is becoming more popular.

This study unit is divided into the following sections:

  • Introduction
  • Session 9.1: Organisational control
  • Session 9.2: The control process
  • Session 9.3: Principles of and barriers to coordination
  • Conclusion

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Study Unit 9

Study unit 10: Management information systems

Study unit outcomes

After completing this study unit, you should be able to:

  • Describe basic information system concepts as applied to business operations and management;
  • Explain how to work with the MIS staff to make technical decisions; and
  • Explain how large-scale computer applications systems can assist with business management and operations.

Study unit overview

This unit is an introduction to MISs and their role in supporting and transforming modern organisations and management activities. A wide range of topics are covered here to give you an overview of how MIS fits into the workplace.

This study unit is divided into the following sections:

  • Introduction
  • Session 10.1: Basic information system concepts
  • Session 10.2: Working with management information system staff
  • Session 10.3: Using computer applications systems in management
  • Conclusion

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Study Unit 10

Study unit 11: Monitoring and evaluation

Study unit outcomes

After completing this study unit, you should be able to:

  • Define evaluation and monitoring processes in extension;
  • Explain the importance and characteristics of evaluation in extension;
  • Identify the uses of evaluation;
  • Explain the meaning of monitoring processes and their indicators; and
  • Identify the methods used in monitoring extension activities and the various examples of indicators of extension.

Study unit overview

There is an increased demand that extension programmes give evidence of value for money and results both at national levels and among international organisations and bilateral agencies. Investments in extension are aimed at complex transformations in how people live and how they manage their natural resources. These transformations can be rigorously evaluated, but require mixed methods. In order to assess their value, you will need qualitative and quantitative data, as well as the acknowledgement that the change processes resulting from extension are non-linear, dynamic, and multidimensional. The roles of monitoring and evaluation are complementary. In this unit, these two concepts are discussed so that both field level staff and extension managers have a better understanding of how to apply these concepts.

This study unit is divided into the following sections:

  • Introduction
  • Session 11.1: Monitoring for effective management
  • Session 11.2: Evaluation for effective management
  • Conclusion

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Study Unit 11