Grass roots institution building : a realistic focus for agricultural development

THE GRIB APPROACH ADOPTS ELEMENTS FROM TWO OTHER CURRENT MODELS: (1) ESMAN"S INSTITUTION BUILDING (IB) MODEL, AND (2) LOOMIS"S PROCESSUALLY ARTICULATED STRUCTURAL (PAS) MODEL. THREE PREVIOUS MODELS APPLIED TO LATIN AMERICA ARE DISCUSSED. THE "PURE EXTENSION" MODEL -- AN APPLICATION OF THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE -- WAS UNSUCCESSFUL IN LATIN AMERICA IN THE 1940S. THE AGENTS WERE ISOLATED FROM INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORTS, AND REACHED RELATIVELY FEW FARMERS. THE SECOND APPROACH, THE "SERVICIO," SOUGHT TO INSTITUTIONALIZE EXTENSION ACTIVITIES BUT FAILED BECAUSE LACK OF FUNDING AND INTER-MINISTRY RIVALRIES. A THIRD APPROACH, "FORMENTO," REGARDED EXTENSION PERSONNEL AS CHANGE AGENTS. IT FAILED BECAUSE OF LACK OF ORGANIZATION AMONG EXTENSION PERSONNEL AND LACK OF TECHNIQUES FOR FOSTERING CHANGE. THE CURRENT IB MODEL EMPHASIZES FORMING A STABLE INSTITUTIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTING PROGRAMS. HOWEVER, ITS "FROM THE TOP DOWN" ASSUMPTION DOES NOT FIT COUNTRIES WHERE NEED IS IMMEDIATE BUT INSTITUTIONS AND LEADERSHIP ARE UNDEVELOPED. THE CURRENT PAS MODEL ALLOWS FOR BUILDING FROM THE BOTTOM UPWARD. IT VIEWS THE CHANGE PROCESS AS A PERSONAL GROWTH PROCESS FOR THE FARMER, AND NOT PRIMARILY AS INSTITUTIONAL GROWTH. THE GRIB MODEL ADOPTS THIS, ALONG WITH ELEMENTS OF THE IB MODEL. IT EMPHASIZES LOCATING CHANGE AGENTS -- INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAMS -- AT THE VILLAGE LEVEL, WHERE THEY CAN CHANGE THE FARMER THROUGH PERSONAL CONTACTS.