Tapping farmer intermediary networks for technology outscaling and sustainable agriculture

The decentralization of agricultural extension has led to the increasing importance of the role of farmer intermediaries in disseminating agricultural technologies. This is particularly important to the dissemination of lowland rice technologies considering rice as the staple food of the country. Aside from the government extension organizations, these farmer intermediaries for agricultural extension may also include formal and informal grassroots organizations such as seed growers associations, irrigators associations, cooperatives, church groups, women's associations, among others. However, these farmer intermediaries may have different organizational goals and thus may operate with different thrusts and employing different methodologies. Such variations tend to raise concerns regarding the consistency and reliability of the information that the farmers are receiving. Hence, linking the networks of farmer intermediaries may have different organizational goals and thus may operate with different thrusts and employing different methodologies. Such variations tend to raise concerns regarding the consistency and reliability of the information that the farmers are receiving. Hence, linking the networks of farmer intermediaries with the formal national extension structure is vital to address this problem of having consistency on the message and information to the farmers. Drawing from the experience of the current IRRI-PhilRice Philippine Rice Self Sufficiency Project in the provinces of Bohol and Agusan del Norte, this paper aims to illustrate the importance of engaging and networking farmer intermediaries in outscaling consistent agricultural knowledge and good agricultural practices. Particularly this paper will present a conceptual framework for implementing this strategy in line with IRRI-PhilRice Philippine Rice Self Sufficiency Project.