Innovative Extension Approaches for Combating Desertification in Drylands:
Cases and Applications
 

Oladele O. I.

Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
e-mail: oladele20002001@yahoo.com

Abstract

This paper examines the innovative extension approaches for combating desertification in drylands. This is based on the premise that the dissemination of information through extension services has been responding through the changing scenes of social, economic, cultural and political challenges in many countries with large span of drylands. Among the extension approaches covered are: gender-targeting, crop-livestock integration technologies, multi-media strategies of dissemination, information sharing using mobile phones and multilingual approaches.
The paper highlights how these approaches have increased information access among clients. These approaches were based on the extension needs of the clients and effective research – extension –farmer linkage. The paper covers innovative extension approaches that have been applied in the drylands of Nigeria, and other parts of the world. These approaches are described as case studies and the paper concludes with the suggestions of the application of these innovative approaches in other parts of the world.