Outreach: “Sharing Knowledge to Serve Senegal”.

A lack of good working relationships between research and extension personnel, farmers, and farm organizations is one of the most challenging problems facing many  ministries of agriculture in developing countries. In 2011, USAID/Education and Research in Agriculture (USAID/ERA) conducted assessments to identify gaps in curriculum, outreach, and research across several institutions in Senegal. The assessment identified knowledge gaps between institutions engaged in agricultural research and education and farmers.  The weak linkage between research, extension, and farmers had resulted in structural problems in the national agricultural system, thus limiting effectiveness of efforts aimed at development.  In 2013, USAID-ERA – in collaboration with Virginia Tech and partner institutions in Senegal (ENSA, ISFAR, and ANCAR) formed a leadership group including farmers to establish linkages between extension and research to serve the farming communities in Senegal.  In July 2013, the same partner institutions conducted several meetings with stakeholders as first steps towards establishing outreach programs across Senegal. The focus of this first-ever outreach effort was to develop and disseminate knowledge that can increase forage resources through better pasture management and a better understanding of grassland agroecosystems. Through this newly established partnership, we have been be able to work with several farmer-groups across different geographical locations within Senegal. The most important aspect of our outreach program has been the focus on empowering women and youth. This presentation will focus on the different outreach activates related to grassland management and conservation.