The Ethiopian agricultural extension services: A mixed perspective

Abstract

Agricultural extension is the primary mechanism that enhances agricultural production. Thus, the main objective of this paper was to review the Ethiopian Agricultural Extension Services. The literature review was used to collect the data across Ethiopia. This method collected and evaluated the published documents that relate to agricultural extension in the country. The evaluation of various studies showed that agricultural extension contributes to improving farming, improving commercialisation, educating farmers, conserving natural resources, promoting new technology, promoting sustainable agriculture, and disseminating information across various settings. By the same token, weak interaction, low participation, lack of technical skills, missed use of services, the weak link of research extension, a lack of incentives, and a lack of suitable adaptation to technologies constrain the extension system across the country. Likewise, the available agricultural inputs, high demand for agricultural products, available donors, and access to weather roads and media, access to credit, and available manpower were the main prospects of the extension system in Ethiopia. Therefore, the government of Ethiopia needs to resolve the constraints of extension services, while using its prospects in order to improve the agricultural sector.