Reforming the public agricultural extension system in China : supporting rural innovation

Abstract

The overall goals of this study are to strengthen China’s agricultural technology extension (ATE) reform process through a number of field-based, participatory policy making experiments in the selected counties based on an extension system’s perspective and to contribute to more effective rural development policy reform processes, through a collaborative, experimental learning-by-doing approach. To achieve these goals, the project has two major components: 1) large scale extensive study in 35 counties from 7 provinces across China; 2) intensive study in 4 pilot reform counties from 4 provinces. The project had been implemented in March 2006 - September 2009. Except for the final policy forum, which will be organized in late December 2009, the project has completed all planned activities and achieved its overall goals. The followings are summaries of major activities, findings and impacts of both extensive and intensive studies of this project.