Information and advisory services

Agricultural advisory (extension) services have long been recognized as an important
factor in promoting agricultural development (historical perspectives are set out by, e.g.,
Birkhaeuser, Evenson and Feder 1991 and Anderson and Feder 2007). Hence it is highly
appropriate that the 2008 World Development Report (WDR), Agriculture for Development,
should acknowledge the role of extension and the challenges of its effective evolution in
coming decades.

New approaches around the world in recent times

As indicated in section 1, novel formats of extension operations have emerged in
recent times to try to overcome the perceived and widely acknowledged problems noted in
the historical overview (e.g., Anderson and Feder 2007)

Change in advisory methods

In addition to changes in governance structures, a range of new advisory methods has
been developed.