Science and Technology Mailing List Archive

["James BISCOE" <<address removed>>]

I agree with much of that which Peter Dorward says about motivating extension 
staff. They need salaries, transport and the ways and means to undertake their 
duties. In addition my experience has been that the greatest motivator is the 
response of farmers who find that the advice which extension staff provide 
assists the farmers' enterprises in being more productive. There is nothing 
less motivating than trudging round trotting out the same old tired, irrelevant 
and non productive advice which farmers come to listen to out of politeness. 
New advice does not(contrary to the best aspirations of Benor and Harrison) 
materialise in a continuous stream from research. However, the economic 
circumstances change from season to season. Apply the current economics to the 
best available advice and you have something which farmers are interested in?
Thank you
James Biscoe
15/5/04
0815hrs