ABSTRACT
Arguments for expanding women’s access to agricultural extension must begin with examination of female participation in agriculturally productive activities, and their influence in farm and household decision-making. Scholars and practitioners in international circles are currently debating the effectiveness of agricultural extension in developing countries. The combined schema includes: conventional government-sponsored extension programs, training and visit system, commodity development and production system, integrated agricultural/rural development programs, and farming systems research and extension. A comprehensive study by Dixon used International Labor Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization and national population census data to identify females as a percentage of the agricultural labor force. Dixon’s analysis revealed that women constitute 38 per cent of the agricultural labor force in developing countries. Women’s understanding of agricultural innovations and principles is limited by their lower educational levels. In practice, standard operating procedures often need to be adapted to accommodate women participants.
