Integrating Agricultural Education and Extension for Development in Timor-Leste

8/14/2019 Integrating Agricultural Education and Extension for Development in Timor-Leste

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sktw-tlsasktw-tlsa 11

MAFS CONTRIBUTION IN INTEGRATINGMAFS CONTRIBUTION IN INTEGRATING

AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION AND EXTENSIONAGRICULTURAL EDUCATION AND EXTENSION

FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT INFOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT INTIMOR-LESTETIMOR-LESTE

ByByMarcos da Cruz and SoekartawiMarcos da Cruz and Soekartawi

([email protected])([email protected])

Paper presented to the Conference onPaper presented to the Conference on

Transforming Timor-LesteTransforming Timor-Leste,, organized by Victoriaorganized by VictoriaUniversity and UNTL, Dili,University and UNTL, Dili,

Timor Leste, 6-7 July 2009Timor Leste, 6-7 July 2009


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Map of Timor Leste(a country with 19000 km2,1M people & 80% of whom are engaged in agriculture)

Scale: 1:1.500.000


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AGRICULTURE & RURAL DEVELOPMENTAGRICULTURE & RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Agriculture & rural development areAgriculture & rural development areconsidered important for TLs Devtconsidered important for TLs Devt

This is because:This is because:

They are interrelated each other.They are interrelated each other.

80% of people/poor-people live in rural80% of people/poor-people live in rural

areas & mostly subsistence farmersareas & mostly subsistence farmers

Most of them depending directly orMost of them depending directly or

indirectly on agricultureindirectly on agriculture


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(cont)(cont)

Non farm enterprises provide aroundNon farm enterprises provide around

20-30% of rural incomes20-30% of rural incomes

Ruralurban linkages increasinglyRuralurban linkages increasingly

importantimportant

Both are access to basic services Both are access to basic services

finance, advice and new technology,finance, advice and new technology,

transport, energy markets etc.transport, energy markets etc. andand

assetsassets land, rural resources, etc.land, rural resources, etc.


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ROLE OF AGRICULTURE IN TLSROLE OF AGRICULTURE IN TLS

ECONOMYECONOMY

Contribute 32% share in GDPContribute 32% share in GDPGenerate more food and raw materials atGenerate more food and raw materials at

lower priceslower pricesReduce poverty by increasing laborReduce poverty by increasing labor

productivity & employment in rural areasproductivity & employment in rural areasAgricultural growth has powerful leverageAgricultural growth has powerful leverage

effects on the rest of the economyeffects on the rest of the economy


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(cont)(cont)

Rising rural incomes, provide aRising rural incomes, provide a

growing domestic market for nationalgrowing domestic market for national

industriesindustries

Significant instrument forSignificant instrument foragriculture-agriculture-

led development strategies in low-led development strategies in low-

income countries.income countries.


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THE ROLE RURAL DEVELOPMENTTHE ROLE RURAL DEVELOPMENT

IN TLS ECONOMYIN TLS ECONOMY::

Focusing on poverty reduction;Focusing on poverty reduction;

Recognizing the potential of indigenousRecognizing the potential of indigenous

knowledge;knowledge;

Promoting the use of participatoryPromoting the use of participatory

approaches;approaches;

Emphasizing community involvement;Emphasizing community involvement;

Adopting an holistic view of theAdopting an holistic view of thedevelopment of the rural space;development of the rural space;


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(cont)(cont)

Preparing rural people for agriculturePreparing rural people for agricultureand off-farm employment;and off-farm employment;

Understanding the complementarily ofUnderstanding the complementarily of

urban/rural linkages;urban/rural linkages;Developing partnerships with NGOsDeveloping partnerships with NGOs

and civil society;and civil society;

Mainstreaming gender issues;Mainstreaming gender issues; Etc.Etc.


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Therefore Agriculture & Rural Development maynot be separatedand consequently

a fully fledge integrated ruraldevelopment (IRD) is needed

IRD includes:Not only increasing agr. productivity, butalso encouraging non-farm activities in therural areas, i.e. increasing access to

education health & housingetc.-

Bettercoordination among partners is needed.


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To speedTo speed up the implementation of IRDthe implementation of IRDthe role ofthe role ofagricultural education andagricultural education andextensionextensionfor rural peoplefor rural people (AEERP) must(AEERP) mustbe treated as important policy.be treated as important policy.

This is because AEERP is dedicated tobringing about transformation of ruralcommunities through capacity building of

rural people.


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80%Subsis

tence

20%Non-Subs

SubsFarming

DiversiviedFarm

Comercial

Farm

Policy

O

ption AGR. EDUC &

EXTENSIONPOLICY


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WHAT ARE CONTRIBUTION OF MAF?WHAT ARE CONTRIBUTION OF MAF?

MAF continues to:MAF continues to:Provide qualified young farmers throughProvide qualified young farmers through

establishing 3 Higher Agriculturalestablishing 3 Higher Agricultural

Schools with about 300 studentsSchools with about 300 studentsRecruit agricultural extension officersRecruit agricultural extension officers

(AEO) & allocate them to one AOE in(AEO) & allocate them to one AOE in

every villageevery village


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Assign AEO:Assign AEO:

to conduct adult education classesto conduct adult education classes(men & women)(men & women)

to organize farmer field schools withto organize farmer field schools with

both technical and basic educationboth technical and basic education to teach rural students in agriculturalto teach rural students in agricultural

mattersmatters


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To conductTo conduct

food production skillsfood production skills

self-employment skillsself-employment skills

appropriate non-formal skillsappropriate non-formal skills

training for adults and schooltraining for adults and schooldrop-outs can permit rural peopledrop-outs can permit rural people

to diversify their skills for a moreto diversify their skills for a more

secure livelihoodsecure livelihood


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MAXIMIZE THE PRIVATE PARTNERSMAXIMIZE THE PRIVATE PARTNERS

TO EDUCATE FARMERSTO EDUCATE FARMERS

MAF cooperatively working with:MAF cooperatively working with:Donor agenciesDonor agenciesNGONGOUniversities/CollegesUniversities/CollegesVillage LeadersVillage LeadersProgressive FarmersProgressive FarmersVolunteersVolunteersEtc.Etc.


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CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

MAF believes thatMAF believes that agriculturalagricultural

education and extensioneducation and extension in ruralin rural

areas is a basic right and an essentialareas is a basic right and an essentialprerequisite for providing quality ofprerequisite for providing quality of

agricultural labor of rural people,agricultural labor of rural people,

reducing poverty, improving the livingreducing poverty, improving the livingconditions, and building a food-conditions, and building a food-

securitysecurity..


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Main Activity by Rural and Urban Areas,Main Activity by Rural and Urban Areas,

According to Gender (% pop >12 yrs)According to Gender (% pop >12 yrs)


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Highest Educ Attainment of Adult Pop by R & UAreas, Acc to Gender, 2007 (% of pop >18 yrs

Documents

Integrating Agricultural Education and Extension for Development in Timor-Leste