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Strengthening Agricultural Research and Extension in Lesotho - TCP/LES/3503

Year of publication 2019

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 2p.

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Project

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) The performance of the agricultural sector in Lesotho has been slow over recent decades. Weak institutional structure and human capacity, as well as under-investment in agricultural research and extension, are reported to be among the factors that have contributed to the poor performance of the sector and its contribution to the national economy. Past assessments shed light on a number of challenges facing agricultural research and extension in the country. Of critical importance were the absence of a national policy for research and extension, weak institutional structure, limited human capacities, declining core funding and obsolete infrastructures, weak linkages and coordination of research and extension across agricultural and rural development line ministries, limited collaboration with regional and international research and extension organizations, and an outdated extension model and policy. The project had two objectives: to strengthen capacities for coordinated research and extension, and to develop a national policy for agricultural research and extension, and a strategic plan for its implementation. It was designed to overcome some of the functional capacities (e.g. capacity to collaborate, capacity to engage in strategic and political processes, capacity to navigate complexity, capacity to reflect and learn), and challenges of collaboration and coordination, as well as policy challenges.

Language English

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