World Technology Access Program

Program Rationale

With the growing global population, shrinking agricultural land-base, and emerging threats of climate change, agricultural transformation is a high priority globally. Along with research and education, extension/outreach remains a key pillar for global agricultural development and food systems. Despite efforts to strengthen agricultural research, extension and advisory services and systems in most developing countries remain weak, under-funded, and disconnected from research and education systems.
Useful technologies, innovative practices in farming and marketing, and reliable information sources are not efficiently reaching farmers and end-users to create the desired impacts on farmers, ranchers and entrepreneurs. We must redefine the roles for agricultural extension advisory services and other government supported services to create a stronger and more efficient system of support for producers. Currently, agriculture extension is more supply-driven than demand-driven. Producers are expecting science-based knowledge, skills and solutions to produce and market quality agricultural products.

Program Description

The Land-Grant University model of agricultural extension implemented by Michigan State University (MSU) is a unique, globally recognized model of outreach, community service and advocacy.
The MSU Extension team in collaboration with International Programs in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) will offer a 10-day short course in Agricultural Extension to share experiences, information, and best practices in the planning, design, implementation management, and evaluation of agricultural extension programs serving local farmers and communities.
This is a fee based course and will be offered annually during the crop-growing season and will provide training to extension specialists, innovative farmers, agriculture consultant, policy makers, regulators, scientists, academicians as well as representatives from private sector and NGOs from the international community.
The course will combine conventional learning methods with emerging technologies with site visits to research stations, county extension offices, local farms, companies, and markets operated by both public and private sectors.
This Agriculture Extension program is designed to learn and better understand the important role of Agricultural Extension advisory services to enhance crop production, crop management practices, irrigation and farm management using advanced Information and communication technologies, advanced agricultural machinery, robotics and automation.
A certificate of participation will be awarded to participants upon completion of this course.

Program Components

• Key concepts in agricultural extension.
• History and evolution of agricultural extension systems worldwide.
• MSU Extension model for working in agriculture, agribusinesses, and youth empowerment .
• Using logic models to conceptualize needs assessments, inventory resources, materials needed, delivery methods, and impact.
• Policy issues in agricultural extension and technology transfer.
• Approaches and models used in agricultural extension worldwide, including case studies of public and private extension.
• Research, extension and farmer linkages
• Design and management of agricultural extension systems.
• Use of information and communication tools (ICT) in agricultural extension.
• Information resources and training tools in agricultural extension.
• Visits and discussions with state and federal agencies supporting agricultural sector.
• Field visits with Michigan farmers.

2020 Program Date: August 2-11, 2020

Registration Deadline: July 30, 2020

To register or for more information, contact:

Dr. Ronald Bates; E-mail: batesr@msu.edu

Mr. Sunil Madan; E-mail: madansun@msu.edu

Mrs. Anne Baker; E-mail: amb@msu.edu

Dr. Karim M. Maredia; E-mail: kmaredia@msu.edu