The Front Line Extension Worker











WORKING WITHIN THE
TRAINING AND VISIT
SYSTEM
The Training and Visit system of
extension (T&V) is now operating in
more than forty developing coun-
tries in Africa, Asia, Europe, Central
and South America. It is a system
which emphasizes simplicity in both
objectives and operation. It provides
continuous feedback from farmers to extension agents and to
research staff; it allows for continuous adjustment to the farmers'
needs. It has spread rapidly around the world, because it is seen as
an effective means of increasing farm production and because it is
such a flexible tool at all levels of an agricultural ministry's
operation.
Prior to 1983, when T&V was introduced in Kenya, the agricultural
extension service provoked many complaints. It was seen as unco-
ordinated and haphazard. Front-line workers were accused of
giving out too many, irrelevant and untimely messages. The con-
nection between research and extension was tenuous and weak.

Two-Way Communication
With T&V, you-the front-line worker-become the vital link in a
chain which ensures two-way communication between research
institutions and farmers: