2021 Virtual AFNR Extension Symposium

2021 Virtual AFNR Extension Symposium ^Featured

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October 14-15 2021

Virtual AFFNR Extension Symposium and PhilEASNet General Assembly

THEME : " Governance of Extension Systems for the new future"

RATIONALE

After a year that passed since COVID-19 broke, extension and advisory services (EAS) continue to face challenges and realities that have worsened because of the pandemic. EAS actors need to be fully aware of these challenges and realities to come up with relevant EAS interventions that are geared towards collectively meeting the goals of inclusive and sustainable agriculture and food systems for food security and sovereignty. However, sheer relevance does not always guarantee the attainment of expected results. Most often, success is a result of effective governance. This is important, especially when dealing with the prevailing health and economic crisis and an uncertain future.

In this light, the Philippine Extension and Advisory Services Network (PhilEASNet) puts forward the agenda of extension governance for this year’s agriculture, fisheries, forestry, and natural resources (AFFNR) symposium. At present, there are two governance initiatives that are being carried out for EAS in the country. These include 1) the professionalization of agriculture, and 2) the implementation of full devolution resulting from the Supreme Court’s Mandanas ruling. The first initiative fits well with the thrust of PhilEASNet, which is to professionalize EAS. The second recalls the Network’s previous policy advocacies that are in support of structural reforms in the Philippine agriculture and fisheries extension system. Over the years, PhilEASNet has been advocating for policies that aim to strengthen EAS, particularly at the local level.

In this symposium, extension professionals and practitioners from the government, academe, and private sector will be acquainted with the present EAS governance initiatives and their implications, and to prepare them for the unintended consequences. As the EAS country forum, PhilEASNet will engage them in this development discourse and bring together their collective voice to firm up these governance initiatives.