Historical Evolution of Agricultural Extension Service Approach in Ethiopia - A Review Historical Evolution of Agricultural Extension Service Approach in Ethiopia - A Review

Abstract

Ethiopia, as one of the countries found in the region, shares the broad characteristics of agriculture in the Sub-Saharan Africa region. Agricultural extension service approach is a bedrock of agricultural development since it contributes to make extension services clear for the development of the skill and knowledge of farmers to adopt new and improved technologies. The general objective of this paper is to review the historical evolution of agricultural extension service approach in Ethiopia. Ethiopia agricultural extension work was started in 1931 with the establishment of the Ambo Agricultural School. The first comprehensive package Chillalo Agricultural Development Unit project was established in the Arsi region that was employed the “Model farmer†approach until 1975. The farmers’ field school, general agricultural extension, commodity specialized, training and visit approach, farming system development, participatory approach, project approach, and the cost-sharing approach were reviewed in the paper. The historical review reveals that extension service system approaches in the past country has not been participatory in its nature. In the past, the agricultural extension service approaches, except PADETS, were based on donor funding. Until 1991 regarding on agricultural extension, different approaches mostly work with commercial farmers with exclusive stallholder farmers. Furthermore, the reviews indicate that past approaches give emphasis on high agricultural potential areas with focusing on crop production, particularly cereals. The review shows that the current extension service approach encourages different stakeholders including the beneficiary farmers. However, the existing extension service approaches need critical evaluation with the farmers.