Module 3 - Client Groups as Key Intermediaries in Extension

Commodity-based and market-oriented groups. These are generally larger and more formal organizations, with more sophisticated needs for extension assistance in production and marketing, business planning, and development for specific products. These groups can play a wider role in extension because they are more likely to be able to define needs, cofinance service delivery, and coordinate extension and information activities.

Current trends likely to increase the importance of producer organizations and facilitate their involvement in extension include moves to decentralize government, better definition of the respective roles of the public and private sectors, more competitive markets, improvements in rural infrastructure and services, and better-educated producers. Future support for client organizations will be more effective if based on better understanding of issues involved in strengthening such groups and a more comprehensive strategy for organizational development and sustainability.

Benefits

Extension systems face challenges in delivering information services to large numbers of rural people scattered over wide, sometimes inaccessible areas. Client organizations help extension “reach” members but, more important, they serve to organize demand for extension services. They enable members to participate in defining objectives and needs, provide feedback to help programs deliver more relevant services, become more accountable to clients, and establish a base for cofinancing and eventual self-financing of services. In working with client organizations, extension services build important social and human capital, empowering clients to analyze and resolve their own problems (boxes 3.15 and 3.16). As agricultural markets become more competitive and demand for information and services increases, there will be a growing need for more permanent, formal organizations to provide rural services.