The Role of SUA in Spearheading Linkage of Research to Extension, and Enhancement of Participatory Methodologies

Abstract

SUA is charged with the mandate of conducting research in agriculture and allied fields, which will have an impact on the agricultural sector and national development in general. This has been emphasized in various university policy documents, including the Corporate Strategic Plan to the Year 2005 and Beyond. While most of the research in this country is conducted by institutions under the Ministries responsible for Agriculture and Natural Resources, SUA has a special role because of its high concentration of agricultural scientists and its national mandate for agricultural research and dissemination of research findings. In order for research to have an impact on the wider society, there needs to be a close linkage between research and extension. In other words, SUA research should result in innovations which can solve the practical problems facing the agricultural sector, and the smallholder farmers in particular. This in turn requires a research approach which is demand-driven, participatory and client-oriented. If SUA is to have a significant impact on agricultural development and sustainable management of natural resources, SUA must take a lead in linking research to extension, and in using participatory methodologies in research and extension. This paper examines how SUA has taken the lead in linking research to extension and in the enhancement of participatory methodologies. The paper reviews research experiences at SUA, as well as outreach initiatives which have been taken as a way of linking research to extension and ultimately to the end-users. The paper also identifies the lessons learnt, and challenges which must be overcome as SUA endeavours to play a leading role in linking research to extension. Finally, the paper draws some conclusions and makes recommendations for the way forward.