Journal of
Agricultural Extension and Rural Development

  • Abbreviation: J. Agric. Ext. Rural Dev
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2141-2170
  • DOI: 10.5897/JAERD
  • Start Year: 2009
  • Published Articles: 489

Full Length Research Paper

Making knowledge-based services more demand-oriented? An experience with ‘public funding, public delivery’ extension in Bénin

Clément Gbêhi1*, and Gerard Verschoor2
1Département d’Economie, Socio-Anthropologie et Communication (DESAC/FSA/UAC), Université d’Abomey-Calavi, Faculté des Sciences Agronomiques, 01 B. P. : 526 Cotonou, République du Bénin. 2Rural Development Sociology, Social Sciences Group, Wageningen University, Hollandseweg 1, 6706 KN, Wageningen, The Netherlands
Email: [email protected], [email protected]

  •  Accepted: 12 June 2012
  •  Published: 25 July 2012

Abstract

This article examined newly emerging patterns of agricultural extension in the context of decentralization policy in Bénin. It assesses whether the promises of decentralization were met in the case of the ‘Experimental Development on Innovation’ (EDI) project. Thus, it assessed the extent to which service delivery became demand-oriented and effective in promoting production-enhancing technologies for sustainable agriculture. Semi-structured and individual interviews were used to investigate the dynamics and processes through which the project evolved. The analysis of findings showed that after its promising start, the EDI project experienced a number of setbacks, and eventually became intertwined with the supply-oriented service delivery. While it contended successfully with those involved, consideration must be given to the fact that the formal funding and delivery arrangement often contradicted the expectations that services delivery should become ‘demand-oriented’. The article concluded that services delivery depends rather on the negotiation and on the quality of the process in which demand and supply are articulated and matched.

 

Key words: Technology transfer, extension service delivery, decentralization, public funding, public delivery, demand-oriented services, demand articulation, Bénin.

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