Human Resources Development and Management Issues: In-Service Training Needs and Challenges

摘要

Exactly seven years ago in Geneva, I met Dany Benor, who wanted a Professional Trainer to work in Abidjan with a team of two other senior extension and research colleagues. He was concerned that in-service training was too theoretical, that the flow of technology generation and dissemination was slow, and that skills, routines, and attitudes of extension and research staff were not facilitating contact with farmers to help them express their needs for new knowledge and skills relevant to their own environment, constraints, and potential. Since then we have made significant progress, which can be observed in the in-service training and national capability building taking place under our agricultural services initiative. More national trainers are being trained professionally and are ready to design and implement training plans and programs. Training is more regular, systematic, and interactive. Research is contributing to the regular technical training of extensionists. Farmers are increasingly involved in the selection of training priorities. Farmers' concerns and suggestions are also being taken into consideration in training, particularly in the training of subject-matter specialists with researchers.