Investir dans la traction animale : le conseil à l’équipement

Abstract

In sub-Saharan Africa, several agricultural development organizations are facing difficulties to scale up the participatory agricultural advice approach. The objective of our research was to analyze the evolution process followed by the Cotton development company of Cameroon (SODECOTON), a hierarchical organization, to develop a new agricultural advice approach further to its traditional extension approach. Surveys were carried out on the level of mastery of the new advice approach with farmers and extension agents. Despite the enthusiasm of farmers and extension agents, the new agricultural advice is not yet sufficiently adapted to realities of North Cameroon because of the inadequate profile of extension agents, the low educational level of farmers and the crisis of the cotton industry. Implementation of agricultural advice requires important adjustments in the existing advice device. These adjustments are a source of concern for SODECOTON and its extension staff. The unfavourable context marked by the crisis of the cotton industry makes SODECOTON reluctant to carry out required reforms. This study shows that the implementation of Agricultural advice should be conceived as a component of an agricultural innovation system with the involvement of a wide range of actors (the State, agricultural training and research institutions and service providers).