Overview
Agricultural extension and education are important tools in the policy toolkit to facilitate agricultural development in developing countries. We have known for a long time that farmers learn at least as much from other farmers as they do from professional educators or extension officers. This manual brings these two ideas together by suggesting a process and providing resources to support the development of farmers as peer educators. Farmers are better able to tailor technical information to their local context and culture, and peer educators can become important role models for others.
This manual was developed in an innovative ACIAR-funded project in Papua New Guinea (PNG) led by Professor Barbara Pamphilon from the University of Canberra. It has been designed so that it can be easily adapted for use in other developing countries as well as PNG. Smallholder farmers across the world are keen to learn ways to improve their agricultural production, food security and family incomes. This publication is a valuable resource for agencies wishing to support farmers to become active adult learners and to build agricultural learning communities.