Kumala (sweet potato, Ipomoea batatas) is a food crop in the traditional food system of Vanuatu. It contributes to sustainable livelihoods and food security for many smallholder farmers. How kumala is grown and how it enhances livelihoods on Tanna Island is the case study reported in this paper. This study was completed using a qualitative case study research design based on data collected through incorporating an indigenous method ( storian ) and semi- structured interviews. Kumala is regarded as a food security crop because it is drought tolerant, has a short growing cycle, will grow in a variety of situations, is preferred as a food crop, and its use is not influenced by cultural obligations like the traditional crops of taro and yams. Kumala's uptake as a food crop is informed by traditional knowledge of crop growing and uses, along with contemporary knowledge embedded in plant material that is collectively supported by agriculture extension services. Traditional social networks facilitate the exchange of kumala and its role in contributing to food security.
In the southern regions of New South Wales (NSW), Australia there is increasing interest in sub-tropical grasses in response to increased summer rainfall and declining temperate grass productivity. Producers across inland NSW were surveyed about their interest in and experience with growing these grasses. We found significant positive relationships between intention to sow new areas to sub-tropical grasses and a high level of awareness; possessing a sound knowledge of sub-tropical and general agronomy; highly rating their benefits; possessing a business focus; and concern about reduced temperate pasture persistence. While one-third of interested producers indicated their intention to sow sub-tropical grasses, most reported insufficient knowledge to 'successfully' establish these grasses. Around half of experienced producers reported insufficient knowledge to 'best' manage these grasses once established. We discuss the implications of these findings for extension planning around sub-tropical grasses, highlighting the need to meet the specific knowledge requirements based on producer experience.
Community Health Workers (CHWs), known as Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) in the Philippines, are essential in connecting remote communities with healthcare services, yet they face challenges such as limited training and resources. This study developed and evaluated a comprehensive training program to enhance BHW capabilities in Occidental Mindoro, Philippines. Using a quasi-experimental, one-group pretest-post-test design with qualitative validation, BHWs were recruited through purposive sampling. A needs assessment informed the program, and pre- and post-training assessments measured changes in knowledge, skills, and attitudes. Results showed significant improvements, highlighting the value of ongoing training in boosting BHWs' effectiveness in community health. This program offers a model for strengthening healthcare delivery in underserved regions.
The New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre (NZAGRC) initiated the Future Farm Systems Research Programme to explore transformative system changes that could support the agricultural sector to achieve the Government's 2050 climate targets. The study focused on case studies in Te Tai Tokerau Northland and Murihiku Southland, gathering input from experts, stakeholders and local representatives through workshops in 2024. Scenarios were developed from participant input, allowing for the exploration of potential differences both between and within regions. Scenario analysis explored value chain impacts and identified regional pathways to low emissions futures, which include reducing ruminant numbers, developing new supply chains and requiring significant capital investments. Results highlight that successful emissions reduction depends on aligning community aspirations with economic realities and infrastructure costs. Effective transitions necessitate strategic decision making and active community engagement, aiming to balance environmental, social and economic outcomes.
Agriculture and food processing are becoming increasingly knowledge intensive as imperatives to innovate in the face of climate, market and other changes accelerate. The Agri- food Knowledge Matrix attempts to 'make sense' of the vast, complex array of information and support available to North West Tasmanian agri-food producers that is difficult for producers to navigate as they attempt to respond to risks and opportunities. The matrix identifies knowledge holder organisations and enterprises, from local extension to online knowledge repositories, mapping them according to areas of food production practice (e.g., production, business, sustainability) and innovation/change process stages (awareness, decision making, implementation, monitoring and review) for agri-food business in various sectors. We explore where extension fits in our mapping of agri-food knowledges held and used in North West Tasmania and conclude extension has the potential to improve cross value chain collaboration to give producers access to knowledge and support needed for resilience.
Spodoptera frugiperda (fall armyworm) was first detected in Northern Australia in February 2020 and its establishment caused economic losses to sweet corn and maize. We used Participatory Action Research (PAR) methods to co-develop and deliver the best management options (BMOs) for the sweet corn industry and valuable information for other crops. Various extension methods combined with three FAW BMOs demonstrations in sweet corn were delivered. A total of 402 vegetable industry participants and service providers engaged in the project. Over 60% rated the field day as a useful resource for engaging, sharing, learning, and accessing BMOs. Surveys showed that the PAR improved the participant's knowledge of pest biology and natural enemies, skills in FAW diagnostics, and changed pest management practices. It indicates regular crop monitoring and choosing appropriate insecticides with targeted applications to eggs and larvae can improve FAW control and minimise insecticide resistance development.
Japan is currently grappling with a labour shortage in its agricultural sector. The Japanese government allows foreigners to work in the name of training under the Foreign Technical Intern and Training Program (TITP) in 14 sectors, including agriculture. Despite its intentions, TITP has faced significant criticism from both domestic and international human rights organisations, citing instances of exploitation and labour abuse. Past studies mainly focused on these negative aspects, often overshadowing the positive outcomes and successes of program alumni. However, TITP is considered highly important for Indonesia as it provides high-paying jobs for low or unskilled youth, accounting for over 50% of the total unemployed population. In recent years, the Indonesian government has strongly supported TITP, claiming it attracts youth to engage in agriculture, and many of its alumni return to Indonesia and embark on agricultural entrepreneurship. This paper aims to explore the characteristics of TITP graduates in the agriculture sector and whether they become entrepreneurs within the agricultural sector, otherwise referred to as agripreneurs. Results from this study show that over 71% of alumni transition into agripreneurial roles, managing multiple enterprises and earning significantly more than typical Indonesian farmers. Over 70% engage in diversified farming, a practice the Indonesian government encourages. This demonstrates the effectiveness of TITP in attracting Indonesian youth to agriculture and fostering entrepreneurial success.
FutureBeef is a collaboration between the Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australian government departments and Meat & Livestock Australia to provide coordinated delivery of online information for the northern beef industry. Achievements 20182022 include: a website with 1222 pages and over 1.7M pageviews and 954,000 visitors; 49 webinars with almost 6900 registrations, over 3000 attendees and 27,200 webinar recording views; 54 eBulletins to 6288 subscribers, with an average open rate of almost 33% and click rate of 8.6%; Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn with 18,821 combined followers and over 85,000 engagements. The FutureBeef website is the key communication tool, while webinars, ebulletins and social media raise awareness and direct users to the website. Improvements to all these tools are critical to enhance user experience.
It has long been accepted that we must consider the 'individual', their biases and perceptions when working through one-on-one engagement and extension approaches to achieve behavioural change, but this can be easier said than done. Surveying the opinions of farmers through water quality practice change projects and other mechanisms in the Great Barrier Reef catchment has been in place since mid-2019. These surveys assess the attitudes, group norms, self-efficacy, motivations, and barriers of farmers in the sugar cane, grazing, horticulture and banana industries and provide extension officers with a practical way to consider the individual factors of their producers. The insights from these surveys can add a tool to the extension toolbelt that extension officers can use to adjust their approach for the individual and meet them where they are on the change continuum. These insights can also help build extension officers' own professional skills in line with the emerging Extension Model of Practice - a framework for agricultural extension.
The lecture style approach of the 2018 Dairy Australia Rearing Healthy Calves (DA RHC) program delivered sound content to participants, in a one size fits all purposes framework. In November 2020, an internal Dairy Australia project team updated the DA RHC extension program to provide a 'Fundamental' course supporting dairy farm employee's operational management of calf rearing, and an 'Advanced' course supporting decision makers in strategic management of calf rearing on Australian dairy farms. During a pilot of the DA RHC advanced course, participants focused on peer-to-peer discussion to remove roadblocks to practice change. As a result of this observation, the focus of the advanced course was switched from uptake of content to facilitation of participant driven pathways for practice change. The 'In Practice' focus appreciates the adoption of change requires time and space for reflection of how new learnings are being implemented to improve current farm practices.
Established in 1993, the Birchip Cropping Group's (BCG) initial objectives were to conduct cropping research in the southeast Mallee and then share those outcomes with local grain growers so it could be applied almost immediately. Held prior to sowing each year, Trials Review Day was, and still is, an event offering farmers the opportunity to learn about local research that they can apply in their paddocks or business. The purpose of this event has largely gone unchanged and each year it continues to fill the room with approximately 180 growers from across western Victoria. A review of past publications and an analysis of the reflections of past and present BCG team members and BCG farmer members were conducted to identify key success factors. These included involving producers throughout the development process, providing a relevant program and structure, and making adjustments such as enabling online attendance.
Creating videos as an extension tool is a part of many projects. However, what makes a video successful? What performance metrics define success? In this paper, the authors review the process of creation and promotion of 15 videos for beef producers with a focus on achieving adoption of specific management practices. The videos, created for the previous FutureBeef project, involved similar to 70 people across Queensland, Western Australia and Northern Territory, including a professional film crew. The videos feature beef producers, veterinarians, extension officers and researchers. The authors share key learnings from the planning, filming and editing process, through to content performance. The greatest learnings included invest time into consultation with a broader project team to create a clear definition of a 'successful video' and identify methods so that created video content can be integrated into ongoing broader extension delivery. Doing this extends the 'successful' lifetime of the product.
Effective regional capacity building through encouraging and supporting early career extension officers is essential to achieving Reef water quality outcomes. The AEWPP has built capacity for extension delivery organisations across the Reef catchment and Queensland. This program has demonstrated that this type of model can help address the identified shortage of experienced extension personnel with the appropriate background and experience to support landholders. Not only does the program provide benefits to the individual trainee but it also benefits the mentors and host organisations as well as investors, and of course the Reef.
Agriculture Victoria's irrigation team have developed an improved web-based extension tool called 'Irrigation System Selection and Design Guidelines' which includes new information to better meet the needs of today's irrigators. The tool is easily navigated and has a broad range of helpful resources including new instructional videos, animations, podcasts, drone footage, information notes and case studies to maximise an irrigator's ability to access information. The tool provides answers to more than 100 frequently asked questions packaged under five key steps and will guide users through a logical decision-making process. The tool has been tested with potential target audiences, including service providers and irrigators. The tool does not replace the need to get specialist input from irrigation advisers. Rather, the tool will assist irrigators and service providers be aware of key issues to consider during the development and improvement of their irrigation systems to better manage their irrigation risks.
Declining soil organic matter, soil health and loss of natural fertility are major constraints to sustainability on Australian grain farms. Improved knowledge of soil health is required by those managing Australian soils- farmers. An extension program was delivered to Queensland grain growers in 2022/23 to develop participants' knowledge and their capacity to improve soil management. This program utilised Participatory Learning and Action Research, which combined a structured action learning approach that established on-farm participatory action research to start improving soil health. During the program over 70 properties selfassessed their soil health utilising their own soil data. Growers then identified their top priorities and new management practices they wanted to test in their paddocks. Deep placement of phosphorus was the highest rated priority and the management practice growers most wanted to test in their paddocks (49%). On-farm research sites were implemented to test and refine these practices on participants' properties.
Although recent studies show that agroecological innovations are effective techniques that ensure sustainable food production, their development and adoption are less well-known. This study aims to understand how agroecological innovation occurs in vegetable farming in Benin. Data were collected from 300 randomly selected households in three main vegetable-producing areas in Benin. Among agroecological vegetable innovations developed over the last 10 years, about 49% are outside innovations that farmers know of, 31% are outside innovations that farmers are not familiar with, and 22% are identified by farmers as local innovations. Innovations are better known in municipalities where farmers have more formal education, access to extension services, and access to credit. Farmers' priority innovations relate to integrated soil fertility, pest control, and water management. Promoting these practices would be an effective way towards achieving sustainable food security. Many farmers (82%) were not associated with the innovation process. Agroecological stakeholders need to go beyond traditional forms of top -down intervention and involve farmers in the innovation process.
Facilitating opportunities for undergraduate students to be immersed in remote, developing communities helps develop a better understanding of the differences between Australian and international agricultural systems. Traveling to central Sulawesi in Indonesia with the aid of the New Columbo Plan Scholarship in 2023 provided an opportunity to study local agricultural and forestry conservation practices. This facilitated an understanding of the importance of appropriate allocation of agricultural resources, environmental conservation, the impact of natural disasters and their effect on agricultural trade and economics, and how social, political, and cultural views can alter consumer perspectives. It also highlighted the differences in social capital between our countries and how this impacts the ability of producers to adopt innovation. With an ever-growing population, it is crucial that the next generation of agriculturists utilise these opportunities to develop our understanding of how global agricultural production coalesces, and the opportunities and challenges that producers face.
Antimicrobial use (AMU) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) have been of concern for decades. To support implementation of AMU reduction strategies, a participatory development approach was used to recruit nine regional groups of farmers supported by their veterinary practices. They were involved in a series of three workshops. Workshops were designed to identify practical strategies for AMU reduction that farmers would trial within their farming systems. Participating farmers successfully demonstrated a reduction in AMU. Value flow began with farmers accepting the invitation to participate in a project that would benefit both themselves and their industry. They saw potential to make a proactive contribution to the reduction of antimicrobial use on-farm. This resulted in them enacting practical strategies they had designed for their own situations. The value this realised was improved animal health and reduced antibiotic expenditure. Veterinary practices realised value through stronger client relationships and farmers adopting 'best practice'.
The Student Compendium is building the primary industry's workforce by connecting students to industry. It is aligned to the human capacity building pillars of the respective Blueprints for the South Australian sheep, beef, dairy, grains, and horticulture Industries that call everyone to action on state and national Industry Strategic Plans. The innovative Communications and Socials Media Plan highlights industry opportunities to high school, VET, and tertiary students through a presence in multiple media channels and physical outreach at student expos and events. The plan was developed and implemented by an Undergraduate Intern, where the Compendium Corner, a brand for postings on the Ag Institutes socials pages, has been developed. Hard copies have been essential to creating awareness in the early years. Long term it's important that an electronic culture is developed, initially around the PDF, while in the future it lends itself to the development of a national, searchable portal.
Rural communities are faced with unique social and geographical challenges which impact mental health and suicidality. Prevention efforts must support the essential resource in agricultural production: the people. Community-based suicide prevention is a social driver of change, enabling rural communities to leverage existing strengths and resources. This paper will reflect on the author's experiences evaluating recent suicide prevention programs implemented in Tasmania and research drawing on professional and lived experience perspectives across Australia. The discussion shows how community-based suicide prevention can be used to build the capacity of and re-purpose roles already in the community linked to agricultural extension. Community-based efforts are a means to align with, coordinate and empower extensionists to be involved with localised prevention efforts. This approach can support farmers and producers, communities, and industries to impact the complex factors contributing to increased suicide risk and the ripple effects widely felt across rural communities.
