CTRD RURAL EXTENSION AND OUTREACH

THIS PROJECT IS A SUBPROJECT OF THE CENTRAL TUNISIA RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (CTRDP). ASSISTANCE WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE GOT"S MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (MOA) TO STRENGHTEN THE EXISTING CENTRAL TUNISIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (CIDA) AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICE (AES); AND TO ESTABLISH A NEW EXTENSION SERVICES SUPPORT UNIT (ESSU) WHICH WILL PROVIDE MULTIDISCIPLINARY INFORMATION AND MEDIA SUPPORT TO ALL RURAL OUTREACH ACTIVITIES IN CENTRAL TUNISIA. THE ESSU WILL HAVE TWO TECHNICAL AND ONE COMMUNICATIONS UNIT AND WILL: (1) PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO FIELD AGENTS, AND SUPERVISE DELIVERY OF EXTENSION, HEALTH EDUCATION AND OTHER RURAL DEVELOPMENT PACKAGES; (2) ACT AS A FORWARD AND BACKWARD LINKAGE BETWEEN RESEARCH EFFORTS AND BENEFICIARIES; (3) COORDINATE ALL EXTENSION ACTIVITIES; AND (4) DEVELOP NEW TECHNOLOGY INFORMATION PRACTICES. THE AES WILL APPOINT A NEW DIRECTOR TO ASSESS TRAINING NEEDS, COORDINATE WORK SCHEDULES AND SUPERVISE ACTIVITIES ON TRAINING FARMS. MASTER OF SCIENCE TRAINING WILL BE PROVIDED IN THE US FOR FOUR ESSU AGRICULTURAL SPECIALISTS TO IMPROVE THEIR CAPABILITY TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO AES FIELD AGENTS. SHORT-TERM TRAINING WILL BE GIVEN TO IMPROVE THE TECHNICAL CAPACITY OF SELECTED AES STAFFERS. AID WILL PROVIDE CONTRACT SERVICES FROM A US UNIVERSITY INCLUDING TWO RESIDENT ADVISORS. THESE WILL BE COMPLEMENTED BY TWO SHORT TERM SPECIALISTS. LOAN FUNDS WILL ALSO BE USED TO FINANCE COMMODITIES NEEDED FOR AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES, AND TO ASSIST IN FINANCING 1,100 DEMONSTRATION PLANTS AND 500 INFORMATION DAYS. GOT WILL PROVIDE USE OF THE FACILITIES AT A NUMBER OF INSTITUTIONS, RECURRING COSTS OF ESSU AND AES, AND FUNDING OF OFFICE EQUIPMENT. TRANSPORTATION VEHICLES WILL ALSO BE PROVIDED. BENEFICIARIES OF THIS PROJECT WILL BE 35,000 SMALL FARMER HOUSEHOLDS IN CENTRAL TUNISIA.