Top ten good practices for effective extension

In this episode, we’re going to tease out the difference between best practice and good practice. As enablers of change, which one should we be most often referring to, and why is that important? We’ll then share with you our top ten good practices for effective extension.

When we use the phrase “best practice,” it can unintentionally suggest that there is a single, ideal approach that applies to all contexts and circumstances. However, our experience in agricultural extension tells us a different story—one where flexibility, adaptability, and context are key. Instead of one-size-fits-all solutions, there are a range of good practices, each of which can be the most effective in certain situations. What works well in one setting might not be the best option in another. Factors such as the local climate, farm size, resource availability, and even the farmer’s experience can all influence what will work best in any given context.

Good practices then refer to approaches that have a solid foundation of evidence and general consensus, showing that their application tends to lead to positive outcomes and successful practice change. These practices may not always be the “best” in every situation, but they are proven, reliable methods that can be adapted and refined depending on specific circumstances. By acknowledging that there are many good practices, we leave room for the local knowledge and conditions that play a crucial role in determining what becomes the best practice for a particular farm, farmer, or region. This approach ensures that solutions are relevant, practical, and more likely to lead to sustained change.

We’ve delved into this for one of the projects we worked on recently, and here is our list of the top ten good practices for effective extension. These practices come from a literature review we did of current extension theory and practice. 

1. Use adult learning principles. Understanding adult learning is key to designing effective extension activities. There are six key principles: connecting learning to adults’ real-life needs, creating a supportive environment for learning, building on learners’ experiences, engaging learners actively, focusing on goal-oriented learning, and empowering adults to set their own learning goals (Ota et al., 2006). These principles emphasise making learning relevant, interactive, and self-directed, ensuring it meets the needs and motivations of adult learners. We covered this in detail in an earlier episode!
2. Build trusted relationships. Trust and long-term relationships are key to the success of agricultural extension programs. The presence and credibility of extension practitioners play a crucial role in gaining the trust of farmers, which is essential for effective collaboration and change. Building trust can be enhanced by leveraging existing social relationships or providing incentives for engagement.
3. Know our audience: understand farmer motivations and contexts. To design effective extension strategies, it’s crucial to understand farmers’ motivations, goals, and socio-cultural contexts. There is no such thing as a typical farmer. They are just as diverse as the rest of our society, so let’s stop lumping them together into one basket. Given this diversity, when engaging our audience consider the broad range of factors influencing their decisions. Use methods like segmentation, surveys, and behavioural science to help understand our audience and develop an extension program.
4. Co-design where practical. Co-designing an extension project ensures equal engagement from all parties—researchers, practitioners, end-users, and other stakeholders—throughout the entire design phase. A co-design approach focuses on involving, collaborating, and empowering farmers and other stakeholders. Generally this means everyone is engaged in the outcome and helps ensure the extension project is focused on the appropriate action or behaviour change. We’ve covered this in a previous episode too!
5. Tailor methods to the audience. Effective extension is customised and multifaceted, acknowledging the diverse needs of farmers. Avoid one-size-fits-all solutions. Success means engaging communities with a broad range of locally applicable tools and techniques, and communication that resonates with the audience.
6. Select appropriate methods for extension. There are at least nine extension methods commonly used (Nettle et al., 2022). Peer-to-peer learning and one-on-one coaching seems to be the most effective in many circumstances. But the other methods are important too! These are technology development, training, information provision, consultancy, e-extension, co-innovation (similar to co-design), best management practices (BMPs), and social marketing. Selecting the right method requires understanding the context and specific needs of the farmers we’re working with.
7. Use a combination of targeted extension methods. Using more than one extension method enhances the effectiveness of extension. This includes using traditional face-to-face interactions along with online platforms and social media. As Vanclay (2004) wrote, the best method of extension is to use multiple methods. A variety of extension methods are needed to effectively reach the diverse range of farmers and to reinforce the message through multiple channels and approaches. Strategies like stacking (using multiple methods within one intervention), linking (connecting with other support options and resources within the organisation), and networking (creating collaborations and connections with external organisations) enable us to support farmers more effectively in adopting new practices and technologies.
8. Use participatory approaches to leverage social learning. Participatory approaches in agriculture emphasise the social and cultural aspects of farming, shifting from a top-down approach to a more inclusive approach. These methods highlight the role of peers in decision-making and the importance of collaborative problem-solving. By involving farmers in the process, we can foster a greater sense of ownership of the solutions.
9. Reframe the role of extension practitioners as innovation brokers. The evolution of extension practitioners reflects a shift from disseminating information to facilitating and brokering knowledge. This means we’re all learning! This approach recognises the importance of social processes and an equal partnership between farmers and extension practitioners. Innovation is often the outcome we’re seeking from our work, so it seems appropriate to incorporate that into the job title. 
10. Evaluate and iterate, evolve through reflection. Continuous, participatory monitoring and iterative evaluation are key to improving extension programs. This helps us learn as we go and adapt practices based on past and current experiences, leading to better outcomes over time.

So those are our current top ten practices for extension! If we’re serious about these good practices, then we need to ensure our extension capability is continually being improved. This means having access to professional development and training that helps us keep developing our skills. We’ve talked in an earlier episode about the Extension Model of Practice. We can use this framework to determine the skills we need to work on to help us identify appropriate training.

By integrating these good practices into our extension planning, we can create more effective extension programs. This approach not only supports farmers in their journey of change but also ours!  Let’s continue to innovate and refine our methods, ensuring we meet the evolving needs of our communities.

Well, you’ve read our thoughts, now we’d like to hear yours! Add a comment below and tell us about your thoughts about these good practices, and tell us any others you’d add to the list. We don’t want this to be just a one-way conversation—join in by sharing your thoughts and ideas with us! 

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Resources

Nettle, R., Major, J., Turner, L., & Harris, J. (2022). Selecting methods of agricultural extension to support diverse adoption pathways: a review and case studies. Animal Production Science, 64(1), AN22329. Available online

Ota, C., DiCarlo, C. F., Burts, D. C., & Laird, R. (2006). Training and the needs of adult learners. The Journal of Extension, 44(6), 28. Available online 

Vanclay, F. (2004). Social principles for agricultural extension to assist in the promotion of natural resource management. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 44(3), 213-222. Available online