Guidelines for the implementation of a participatory extension approach

The extension approaches being practiced in Myanmar are the Selective Concentrative Strategy approach and the Training and Visit approach. Both of these are top-down approaches, which focus on the transfer of technologies. These top-down approaches create a rigid hierarchy, which discourages the feedback of information. Since 1993 international NGOs and the United Nations organizations have introduced a range of participatory techniques for data collection, program planning, project implementation, and project evaluation in Myanmar. This book attempts to assess the training needs of extension agents for the improvement of the quality of their knowledge and skills as well as their major duties and responsibilities. Other points of assessment were factors affecting the performance of extension activities, the agents’ understanding of the existing extension approaches, their awareness of and attitudes towards the participatory extension approach, and to point out guidelines for the future development of the participatory extension approach in Myanmar.