Print VersionFarmers' Advisory Service
Course Objectives
To give the participants an understanding of the overall context of a farmer managed advisory service and make the participants able to plan, organise and implement an advisory service based on the demands expressed by the farming community by whom they are hired.
Target Group
Participants can be recruited from government, semi-government and private services, where there is a clear commitment toward changing into farmer managed advisory services on a pilot project basis or in the process of scaling it up. Aiming at local capacity building within this specific field, teachers/leaders of local technical education institutions could also attend the course. Staff from dynamic and innovative NGOs, agribusinesses and farmer's organisations are also well suited to attend the course. There should be clear indications that the participants selected are in realistic positions to implement what is taught during the course.
Entry Profile
Some years working experience in the organization. The participants are assumed to have a leading role or function as “an agent of change”. Good command of English. Computer literacy.
Topics
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Farming Economics: Providing advice and running an advisory service include many decisions of
economics and profitability. Thus, to support the decision-making processes effect, this subject provides tools and concepts that will make a “basket of choices” approach possible. -
Planning and Managing Agricultural Advisory Services: Planning and management of advisory services should govern and consider system approaches and aims, and take these into the multi-disciplinary tasks of information campaigns, training and support services agreements.
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Extension Methodology: The importance of a systematic approach to analyse and solve problems and demands will be emphasised. This should also be the basis on which to tackle challenges involved in open-ended processes - 'bottom-up' and 'empowerment' approaches.
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Excursions: Visit relevant organisations and companies. An important focus will be to provide theoretical and practical background to farmer owned enterprises and organisations.
Course Goals
To give the participants an understanding of the overall context of a farmer managed advisory service and make the participants able to plan, organise and implement an advisory service based on the demands expressed by the farming community by whom they are hired.
Duration
May 4 - June 12, 2009, in Denmark.
Course Structure
Part of the course will be an Action Planning Assignment. Course participants must bring proposals for their Assignment Paper (AP) to be developed as part of the course content during the course period in Denmark. The proposals shall be developed and presented in the form of an action plan, and it must have been discussed with and approved by programme management.
Programme management in the course participants’ home organisations must actively seek to establish an enabling environment, which will allow participants to implement the skills and knowledge they gain during their participation in the Course in Farmer-managed Advisory Service in Denmark.
Tietgen International’s training approach is based on participatory principles. In a dialogue with the participants, we build up the sessions using methods that can be replicated when developing and implementing activities.
A certificate will be issued upon successful completion of the course.
Funding
The course is co-funded by Danida Fellowship Programme. After selection of course participants, the Danida programmes/projects are charged a non-refundable amount of DKK 2,500 per participant per tutorial week.
Total funding needs are DKK 15,000 per participant. This includes study fees, accommodation, allowances, insurances and international transport.
Place of study
Tietgen International – Nordic Agricultural Academy (http://www.tietgen.dk)
For full course schedule, see 2009 and 2010
Get more information on who can apply, how to apply and find application form.