ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses alternatives to the typical less developed countries (LDCs) government agricultural extension system. The major alternative, and the focus of this paper, is private sector extension. Public sector extension, although without some success, has generally been disappointing in transferring improved agricultural technologies from research to the farmer in LDCs. In an LDC rural setting, the agricultural private sector is extremely diverse. Private sector enterprises become involved in extension because they believe this involvement will increase their profits or enhance their ability to survive. The mechanism for providing this type of outreach or extension is the production management contract. Cultivation patterns have changed from diversification to concentration on the cash crop. The use of production credit, previously non-existent in the villages, is now common practice. Investments in inputs have risen. Agro Inversiones Compania por Acciones is a fruit and vegetable enterprise located in the Azua Valley.
