Participatory Extension Approach

Participatory extension is a learning approach for strengthening individual and organizational capacities of rural people and their livelihoods to enable them to better cope with development in a self-reliant way. It facilitates a process of self-organization and emancipation of people in rural communities to enable them to better articulate their needs for agricultural and social services and represent themselves to service providers and authorities (IMAWESA, 2012). Central to the facilitation of knowledge management processes at community level are four principles: The village as an organization, linkages and cooperation, experimentation, and learning from experience. Implementing these principles at community level enhances increased local organizational capacity and social and economic impacts (IMAWESA, 2012). The following core values guide the implementation of the participatory extension process at community level: Self reliance Ownership and control Inclusivity and equal opportunities Self organization of communities Conservation of natural resources Sharing and co-operation Building of local experiences and skills Learning