The Influence of Privatised Agricultural Extension on Downward Accountability to Smallholder Tea Farmers

Autor/inn/en	Mbeche, Robert M.; Mose, George N.; Ateka, Josiah M.
Titel	The Influence of Privatised Agricultural Extension on Downward Accountability to Smallholder Tea Farmers
Quelle	In: Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension, 28 (2022) 3, S.341-362 (22 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Zusatzinformation	ORCID (Mbeche, Robert M.) ORCID (Mose, George N.) ORCID (Ateka, Josiah M.)
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1389-224X
DOI	10.1080/1389224X.2021.1932538
Schlagwörter	Privatization; Agricultural Education; Rural Extension; Accountability; Agricultural Occupations; Governance; Cooperative Planning; Empowerment; Extension Education; Foreign Countries; Kenya + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Privatisation; Privatisierung; Agriculture; Education; Landwirtschaftliche Ausbildung; Landwirtschaft; Ausbildung; Verantwortung; Occupation; Beruf; Landwirtschaftlicher Beruf; Educational policy; Financing; Steuerung; Bildung; Erziehung; Bildungspolitik; Finanzierung; Erweitertes Bildungsangebot; Ausland; Kenia
Abstract	Purpose: To assess the extent to which privatised extension service, which is premised to be demand-driven, delivers downward accountability to smallholder farmers who are both owners and users of agricultural services. Design/methodology/approach: The research collected data through focus group discussions with smallholder tea farmers and key informant interviews after which the information were corroborated with semi-structured interviews with 104 smallholder farmers. Findings: Our findings show that KTDA (Kenya Tea Development Agency) extension service has in recent years embraced methodologies that allow two-way information exchange and farmers' involvement in planning, implementing and evaluation of extension programmes. While this transition has provided opportunities for increased accountability and empowerment of smallholder farmers, downward accountability is limited by among others; presence of multiple accountabilities, a heavy top-down governance structure, higher incentives for upward accountability, limited resourcing of extension delivery, excessive workload and unrealistic targets on the part of extension staff and weak extension-research-farmer linkages. Practical implications: The findings of this study may be used by policymakers, extension practitioners and organisations delivering extension services to improve downward accountability and quality of advisory services Theoretical implications: The paper contributes to the debate on outcomes of privatisation on extension provision using the accountability lens in an area dominated by perceptions on costs and payment for the services. Originality/value: The literature on downward accountability on privatised extension services is lacking. The paper also extends the framework for assessing the performance of pluralistic extension services to develop and apply a framework for assessing downward accountability in privatised extension. (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2024/1/01