Proposals of extension agents from Argentina, Chile, Cuba, Ecuador, Guatemala and Uruguay to strengthen their competences

Abstract

The training of rural extension agents is key to address effectively the challenges of practice. In general, the academic literature on extension training presents proposals from the perspective of researchers and specialists. In this paper, the proposals and recommendations of rural extension agents from six Latin American countries to strengthen their knowledge and training are systematized and analyzed. We interviewed 133 extension agents, 47 women and 86 men. The results allowed us to identify different facilitators of the training of extensionists, as well as recommendations at the individual, group and institutional levels, and for the formal educational system. The recommendations of the interviewees show the need to think about the training of extension agents beyond the design of training plans, and the importance of generating environments that facilitate learning, selecting and retaining trained personnel, carrying out initial induction actions, institutionalizing mentoring, facilitating peer exchange meetings, design long-term training plans, and identifying future knowledge needs. In summary, the evidence shows that it is necessary that extension institutions design comprehensive training strategies that consider the diversity of sources of knowledge and learning.

Keywords

• rural extension
• competencies
• training
• learning
• latin america.