Agricultural extension programme in Ethiopia: retrospect and prospect

The gap between food needs and availability being a multi dimensional issue in Ethiopia, a number of intertwined and interrelated factors have been responsible to the continuing deterioration in the food security situation of the country since the past three decades. Among the basic factors contributing to food insecurity are the policy environment be it at the macro or sector levels and the efficiency and appropriateness of the institutional structures put in place to implement policies, strategies and programs. Policy reform introduced to transform the economy from state domination is generally on the right direction. The overall development strategy, Agricultural Development-led Industrialization (ADLI/, is to be acknowledged as agriculture is the dominant sector of the economy. To complement the ADLI strategy, the national agricultural extension programme has been launched since 1994/1995 with the aim of attaining self-sufficiency in food production. The extension package programme assisted small-scale farmers to improve agricultural production and productivity through the dissemination of research generated agricultural technologies and improved practices. Nevertheless, the realization of the objective of closing the food gap in the medium term would depend on overcoming, in particular, the problem arising from the unreliability of rainfall in many parts of the country which is the main cause of food insecurity in the country. To overcome the formidable challenges facing agricultural development, strategies have been set to speed up the transformation of agriculture from subsistence to market orientation. Thus, to increase food production in the reliable rainfall areas, the diffusion of modern technology packages within smallholder agriculture is considered as important. In moisture deficit areas, addressing the issue of food security in the major strategy where the primary solution is to be found within agricultural development activities. As the major agricultural activity of the pastoral area is livestock, agricultural development will make this fact central to all its other activities. Efforts are underway to bring about changes in agricultural development. Thus, package development has been initiated and the process is underway alt all levels. These packages are integrated around major activities such as water harvesting, coffee, dairying, agro-forestry, and are implemented at household levels. Farmers Training Centers (FTCs) are assumed to play significant roles as centers for skill training and demonstrations for the diffusion of these technology packages to all farm households. Generally, the challenges facing agricultural development would require a multi-facetted approach. Concerted efforts need to be made to overcome constraints associated with environmental, institutional, infrastructure, socio-economic, technological and human resources development.