Demand Driven Agricultural Advisory Services

Transitions from free towards paid services are inevitably difficult. Since thecapacity and technical knowledge for extension service provision are oftenconcentrated within the public sector, government extension services mayneed to work constructively together with the private sector for a period,for example with training and supervision of community based and privateadvisers to take over direct delivery of services that have previously beenthe responsibility of the public sector. This requires strong management ofchange to handle conflicting interests at the local level.Demand for services requires motivation and the capacity toformulate the demandFarmers demand advisoryservices when theyare motivated to developtheir agricultural production.Their motivation isclosely linked to the existenceof market opportunitiesand prospects forimproved working conditions.When farmershave the motivation andpotential to develop theirproduction, they requireadequate capacity to articulatetheir demand foradvice and training, aswell as the organisationsnecessary to formulatetheir demands and negotiatewith potential serviceproviders.Section 2 describes tools to enhance the motivation through improvingmarket access and building the capacity of farmers and their organisations.8