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Investing in rural extension: Strategies and goals
162
Book reviews
starch will change this to an extent, but the volumes will not be significant in the context of the surpluses already existent. A pair of papers on products from sugars and from starch follow. The first discusses the theoretical (and some practical) products obtainable: prospects for future growth are not inspiring, alas, given the effort which has been expended by researchers in the past. The starch paper is a summary only. Hemi-celluloses and lignin are given a useful study, together with an outline of one of the many processes which have been proposed for chemical separation from wood and straw. The papers then discuss fuel products from biomass (another summary), pulps and fibres, milk proteins, oilseed crops, and the potential for new agricultural crops. This last particularly features the possibilities of new uses for Mediterranean land, which carries the potential to grow some of the products which are in deficit in the EEC: and a discussion of unconventional crops which could be considered such as Chufa, Jerusalem artichokes, Cuphea. Five discussion panels c'onsidered chemistry of glucids, of proteins and lipids, fuel products and land use and new crops. Somehow many recommendations from conferences of this type tend to be for further studies, which are useful and desirable, but defer the decisions needed. This symposium produced more practical recommendations than many. The greatest problem is the scale and immediacy of the surpluses. The only alternative use for agricultural surpluses that is going to make a significant effect on the scale is energy use, and agriculture is one of the most promising partial solutions to the energy deficit. The EEC is aware of the surplus problems and of the energy deficit (see, for example, Energie 2000, EUR 10367, Economica, 1986), but seems to consider each in isolation. The symposium was not largely attended. The report deserves wider circulation, as a contribution to the continuing debate. Oliver M. R. Brown
Gwyn E. Jones (Ed.). Investing in Rural Extension: Strategies anti Goals. Elsevier Applied Science Publishers, London, 1986. 297 pp. Price: £40.00. This book is based on papers given at a conference held at Reading in September, 1985, to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the University's Agricultural Extension and Rural Development Centre. Ambitious in its scope for so slender a volume, its appearance is timely in that extension is faced with a major re-appraisal of its orientation and organisation. To be effective, knowledge systems must not only convey relevant and reliable information: they must also allow farmers and other members of the rural
Book rerieu's
163
community to influence its content and form in relation to their needs. In their various ways the twenty-two papers address different aspects of the transition from a top-down approach based on technological transfer and together they constitute an implicit evaluation of extension investment designed to promote rural development. Because many extension goals are qualitative and attribution is difficult with so many essential complements to the direct effort, rigorous cost benefit evaluation is seldom possible. Four seminal papers make up the first part of the book. They characterise the nature, context, inner tensions, and economics of extension, and seek to identify key issues for discussion. The remainder is devoted to papers and the discussion engendered in five parallel sessions which dealt, respectively, with the policy and planning of extension, extension strategies and approaches. extension methods, resources and management, and research monitoring and evaluation. As might be expected from an extension centre, the book is well produced, clearly structured with its discussion summaries, readily accessed through a good index, and likelv tc stimulate recourse to its reference section and bibliography. Yet those seeking extension blue-prints will be disappointed. Because of the depth of their experience, the authorities recognise that active participation by farmers implies a need for radical changes in bureaucratic extension systems if sufficient flexibility and initiative are to be maintained to respond to varied and complex local needs. Thus, the training and visit scheme is alternately praised as an effective extension vehicle in some areas and castigated as too unduly authoritarian in others. This ambiwflence has its origins in Evenson's masterful concept of yield gaps which provide potential pay-offs for investment at different levels of knowledge. These range from general science through scientific invention management and markets to credit and extension. Priorities for expenditure and manpower should reflect these gaps, with the educated farmers of developed countries requiring more research effort and developing countries emphasismg more farm level extension. Other critical issues are the training and accountability of extension staff. These are merely illustrations from a rich menu which includes some of the accumulated wisdom of theoretical analysts and field practitioners. All stress the need for farming systems research and for selective application according to local needs. The book is thus aimed at the academic and at thc thoughtful policy administrator trying to organise and manage limited resources to best effect for the promotion of rural development. It is recommended as a very useful short overview of contemporary extension thinking and of the directions in which improvements are seen to lie.
Geoffrey Allanson
Book reviews
starch will change this to an extent, but the volumes will not be significant in the context of the surpluses already existent. A pair of papers on products from sugars and from starch follow. The first discusses the theoretical (and some practical) products obtainable: prospects for future growth are not inspiring, alas, given the effort which has been expended by researchers in the past. The starch paper is a summary only. Hemi-celluloses and lignin are given a useful study, together with an outline of one of the many processes which have been proposed for chemical separation from wood and straw. The papers then discuss fuel products from biomass (another summary), pulps and fibres, milk proteins, oilseed crops, and the potential for new agricultural crops. This last particularly features the possibilities of new uses for Mediterranean land, which carries the potential to grow some of the products which are in deficit in the EEC: and a discussion of unconventional crops which could be considered such as Chufa, Jerusalem artichokes, Cuphea. Five discussion panels c'onsidered chemistry of glucids, of proteins and lipids, fuel products and land use and new crops. Somehow many recommendations from conferences of this type tend to be for further studies, which are useful and desirable, but defer the decisions needed. This symposium produced more practical recommendations than many. The greatest problem is the scale and immediacy of the surpluses. The only alternative use for agricultural surpluses that is going to make a significant effect on the scale is energy use, and agriculture is one of the most promising partial solutions to the energy deficit. The EEC is aware of the surplus problems and of the energy deficit (see, for example, Energie 2000, EUR 10367, Economica, 1986), but seems to consider each in isolation. The symposium was not largely attended. The report deserves wider circulation, as a contribution to the continuing debate. Oliver M. R. Brown
Gwyn E. Jones (Ed.). Investing in Rural Extension: Strategies anti Goals. Elsevier Applied Science Publishers, London, 1986. 297 pp. Price: £40.00. This book is based on papers given at a conference held at Reading in September, 1985, to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the University's Agricultural Extension and Rural Development Centre. Ambitious in its scope for so slender a volume, its appearance is timely in that extension is faced with a major re-appraisal of its orientation and organisation. To be effective, knowledge systems must not only convey relevant and reliable information: they must also allow farmers and other members of the rural
Book rerieu's
163
community to influence its content and form in relation to their needs. In their various ways the twenty-two papers address different aspects of the transition from a top-down approach based on technological transfer and together they constitute an implicit evaluation of extension investment designed to promote rural development. Because many extension goals are qualitative and attribution is difficult with so many essential complements to the direct effort, rigorous cost benefit evaluation is seldom possible. Four seminal papers make up the first part of the book. They characterise the nature, context, inner tensions, and economics of extension, and seek to identify key issues for discussion. The remainder is devoted to papers and the discussion engendered in five parallel sessions which dealt, respectively, with the policy and planning of extension, extension strategies and approaches. extension methods, resources and management, and research monitoring and evaluation. As might be expected from an extension centre, the book is well produced, clearly structured with its discussion summaries, readily accessed through a good index, and likelv tc stimulate recourse to its reference section and bibliography. Yet those seeking extension blue-prints will be disappointed. Because of the depth of their experience, the authorities recognise that active participation by farmers implies a need for radical changes in bureaucratic extension systems if sufficient flexibility and initiative are to be maintained to respond to varied and complex local needs. Thus, the training and visit scheme is alternately praised as an effective extension vehicle in some areas and castigated as too unduly authoritarian in others. This ambiwflence has its origins in Evenson's masterful concept of yield gaps which provide potential pay-offs for investment at different levels of knowledge. These range from general science through scientific invention management and markets to credit and extension. Priorities for expenditure and manpower should reflect these gaps, with the educated farmers of developed countries requiring more research effort and developing countries emphasismg more farm level extension. Other critical issues are the training and accountability of extension staff. These are merely illustrations from a rich menu which includes some of the accumulated wisdom of theoretical analysts and field practitioners. All stress the need for farming systems research and for selective application according to local needs. The book is thus aimed at the academic and at thc thoughtful policy administrator trying to organise and manage limited resources to best effect for the promotion of rural development. It is recommended as a very useful short overview of contemporary extension thinking and of the directions in which improvements are seen to lie.
Geoffrey Allanson