Privatising agricultural extension: caveat emptor

Improvement in agricultural systems requires good information and sound adv ice. This has often been provided to farmers through public extension syste ms. The paper describes some of the forces that require a reduced role for the public sector in agricultural extension and greater reliance on the pri vate sector. Some experiences of privatisation and commercialisation of ext ension, as well as the caveats these suggest, are highlighted. A role for t he state in agricultural extension will continue to be important in many co untries for both economic and social reasons. Where forms of privatisation are useful, this will require tested strategies that are situation specific , multi-dimensional, gradual and flexible if resource-poorer farmers are to benefit. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.