overview on strategic and operational planning

3. Andragogy (Malcolm Knowles)
Knowles’ theory of andragogy is an
attempt to develop a theory specifically
for adult learning. Knowles emphasizes
that adults are self-directed and expect to
take responsibility for decisions. Adult
learning programs must accommodate
this fundamental aspect.
Andragogy makes the following
assumptions about the design of learning:
(1)Adults need to know why
they need to learn
something, why are they
involved;
(2)Adults need to learn
experientially;
(3)Adults approach learning
as problem-solving;
(4)Adults learn best when the
topic is of immediate value.

5. Why enhance planning skills?
Planning is everybody’s business. If the ultimate purpose of planning is to
protect the common good or to promote the general welfare then every
inhabitant in the LGU territory has a stake in the process, in the product and in
the outcome of planning. Governance, after all, is much more than the
concern of government. It embraces the concerns of both government and
non-government sectors. This is everywhere evident in the membership of
practically all local special bodies, sectoral and functional committees wherein
slots are invariably reserved for representatives of the private sector, people’s
organizations or non-government organizations.
– Ernesto Serote, Father of Environmental Planning in his book,
RATIONALIZED LOCAL PLANNING SYSTEM IN THE PHILIPPINES (2005)

8. GOAL
The goal of the collaborative project is
to enhance the competence, skills and
update the knowledge of all Agriculture
Extension Workers (AEWs) at all LGU
levels to better deliver extension-
related services.

9. VISION
The capability enhancement training for Agriculture Extension
Workers (AEWs) of Benguet is expected to enhance the capability
of participants in implementing the Programs, Projects and
Activities (PPAs) contained in the CPAFEP. Further, they are
expected to have a holistic approach in the delivery of extension
services through the enhancement of personality, inter-personal
and managerial skills. Two batches of trainings for PLGU and
MLGU shall be conducted.

11. Rationale
1. The Mandanas-Garcia Ruling steered the government to
review and implement the provision of Republic Act No. 7160
or Local Code of 1991 for the State -to include the local
government units (LGU) to capitalize in the agriculture and
fishery sectors. The said Code defines the powers of Local
Government Units and specifies programs that are transferred
to them, including: agricultural extension and on-site research;
infrastructure projects; field health and hospital services; social
welfare services; community-based forestry programs and
other investment support services.

12. Rationale
2. The Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act (AFMA) of
1997 clearly states that the State shall support the
development of a national extension system that will help
accelerate the transformation of Philippine agriculture and
fisheries from a resource-based to a technology-based
industry. Further, the Agriculture and Fisheries Extension
Services shall cover the following major services to the farming
and fishing community: Training services; Farm or business
advisory services; Demonstration services; and Information and
communication support services through tri-media.

13. Rationale
3. Further, the objectives of extension which are directed towards the
development of human resources so that they can do things that may
improve their quality of lives are as follows:
(a) to teach people living in the rural areas how to raise their standards
of living, by their own effort, using their own resources with
minimum assistance from the government (Saville, 1965);
(b) to help people help themselves through education means (Maunder,
1972); and
(c) to raise agricultural production towards an elevated level of living (Di
Franco, 1963) (as stated by Sudaypan, et al., “Analysis of the
Agriculture and Fishery Extension System of the Cordillera
Administrative Region. 2022).

14. Rationale
4. With the reiteration of the
authority given to LGUs to
lead in the development in
their respective areas, these
then prompted the various
national agencies to act on
programs to assist the LGUs to
be able to deliver such
devolved functions.

15. Rationale
5. In the case of the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Provincial
Agriculture and Fisheries Extension System (PAFES) becomes the
convergence program of the various extension pillars on agriculture and
fishery sectors. Prior however with the preparation of the Collaborative
Provincial Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Program (CPAFEP) plans were
the conduct of series of studies as one basis of the PAFES implementation.
For the Province of Benguet, the studies on Appraising Capabilities and
Resources of Benguet LGUs: A Prelude to the Establishment of Province-led
Agriculture and Fisheries Extension System (ACRAFES) in 2021 and Page 5 of
9 the “Analysis of the Agriculture and Fishery Extension System of the
Cordillera Administrative Region (AFESCAR) in 2022 were completed by the
Benguet State University Research Team.

16. Rationale
6. Both the studies, ACRAFES (2021) and AFESCAR (2022) strongly recommend that
there is a need for regular retooling among AFEDU managers, and a comprehensive
training program among the rank and file; extension delivering units and other
extension implementing agencies may consider implementing a complete package or
thorough extension system based on AFMA (1997) through training and outreach,
technical assistance, IEC, and provision of technology starter kit; the AFEDUs shall
optimize their effort in accessing additional budget, either from internal or external
sources that they shall seek the assistance of concerned agencies in the instance that
they need capability building along the conceptualization of “winning”
program/project proposal; and recognize the contributions of the Barangay
Agriculture Extension Workers, the AFEDUs shall allocate funds for their
institutionalization along with their capacitation.

17. Rationale
6. Anent to the implementation of the CPAFEP, the ACRAFES (2021)
showed that there is still a need for the capacitation of all Agricultural
Extension Workers (AEWs) at the local government levels. It was revealed
in Benguet that some competencies are mismatched to the clients’
needs, AEWs must be able to continue increasing their skills and
competencies to associate what is needed especially on what to
prioritize and what actions are appropriate to augment the farmer’s
needs. This is supported by the FAO (1988) stating that one approach in
managing the AF services is the human resource development approach
referring to the vast field of training and development provided by
organizations to increase the knowledge, skills, education, and abilities of
their employees.

18. Rationale
7. The proponents from the Province of Benguet firmly believe that
capability enhancement of AEWs pertain not only to technical matters
but also to the AEW as an individual and as a social being. This is the
foundation that has to be laid firm first given that the PAFES involves
separate LGU levels, which now have to work together to deliver
agricultural extension services more effectively and more efficiently. A
smooth working relationship/ system between the PLGU and MLGU
AEWs cannot be overemphasized in order for the PAFES to succeed. This
is the reason why the Province of Benguet focused on personal and
inter-personal skills enhancement for 2023. It must be noted that once
this has been established, highly technical trainings for AEWs shall follow
suit in the coming years.

24. In most developing countries, the role of extension educator involves technology transfer.
In agriculture, these educators serve as a link between research stations and the local
farming community. They coordinate the input supply, teach farmers how to grow new
crops or raise livestock, and link farmers to market.
Bunch (1995) offered practical tips for agricultural extension workers:
1. Know your limits.
Do not promise what
is not within your
reach to provide, so
act as a catalyst for
long-term change.

25. Practical tips for agricultural extension workers:
2. Respect the farmers’ ideas. Learning
is integral to teaching. So respect what
they already know – after all, they are
real practitioners -- instead of imposing
your ideas on them. Try to learn about
the traditional practices: what they do
to protect soil or farmyard manure used
as fertilizer. These are sustainable
practices both environmentally and
economically -- build on them.

26. Practical tips for agricultural extension
workers:
3. Dignity is above all.
Farmers are the producers
of food for the world.
There is dignity in that
significant work that
should be respected and
protected when you’re
training them.

27. Practical tips for agricultural extension
workers:
4. Practice what you preach.
When you are in a village to
provide extension services, do
not choose to go to the rich
farmer’s house for comfort. It
alienates the small farmers and
puts distance between you and
them.

28. Practical tips for agricultural extension workers:
5. Be a moderator. At first people are slow to speak up. Some people always speak more than others and
tend to dominate the discussion. As a moderator, encourage those who speak less to put forth their
ideas and experiences. Assure them that they can ask without any hesitation and fear.

29. Practical tips for agricultural extension workers:
6. Above all, extension workers should be able to mesh indigenous knowledge and traditional practices
with new information and innovations to make a real difference.

30. What are your expectations/hopes for today?

71. From Dr. Ryan Guinaran’s slides in his talk,
“Developing the Coach in Us”

73. References:
• Agricultural Extension. (Nd). Retrieved on September 8, 2019 from
https://ag4impact.org/sid/socio-economic-intensification/building-
human-capital/agricultural-extension
• MEAS-2016-Extension-Handbook-Suvedi-Kaplowitz-2016_02_15.pdf
• Davis, K. (2015). The new extensionist: Core competencies for
individuals. GFRAS Brief # 3. Lindau, Switzerland: Global Forum for
Rural Advisory Services (GFRAS)
• PDP-2023-2028.pdf
• PAFES operationalization study
• Scribd docs (DND strat plan)