Sustainable Improvements in Diagnostic Capabilities of Plant Health Practitioners through Short In-Service Training

Stefan Toepfer (), Celestin Niyongere, Privat Ndayihanzamaso, Deo Ndikumana, Willy Irakoze, Eustache Cimpaye, Dismas Minani, Pascal Bindariye and Willis Ochilo
Additional contact information
Stefan Toepfer: CABI Switzerland, 2800 Delemont, Switzerland
Celestin Niyongere: Institute of Agricultural Science ISABU, Bujumbura P.O. Box 795, Burundi
Privat Ndayihanzamaso: Institute of Agricultural Science ISABU, Bujumbura P.O. Box 795, Burundi
Deo Ndikumana: Faculty of Agriculture FABI, University of Burundi, Bujumbura P.O. Box 2700, Burundi
Willy Irakoze: Institute of Agricultural Science ISABU, Bujumbura P.O. Box 795, Burundi
Eustache Cimpaye: Department of Plant Protection DPV, Ministry of the Environment, Agriculture and Livestock MINEAGRIE, Gitega P.O. Box 161, Burundi
Dismas Minani: Provincial Agriculture and Livestock Bureaux BPEAE, DGMAVAE, Ministry of the Environment, Agriculture and Livestock MINEAGRIE, Gitega P.O. Box 161, Burundi
Pascal Bindariye: Bureau d’Etudes et des Curricula de l’Enseignement Post Fondamental Technique et de la Formation Professionnelle BECEPTFP, Ministry of Education, Bujumbura P.O. Box 5132, Burundi
Willis Ochilo: CABI Africa, Nairobi P.O. Box 633-00621, Kenya

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 17, 1-12

Abstract: Many growers rely on good agricultural extension services to successfully grow their crops. Correct field diagnoses of plant health problems are an essential starting point. However, some agricultural extension workers may have had limited capacity building in field diagnosis during their agricultural education, and many may have had limited or no continuing education possibilities during their advisory work life. As a result, errors may occur in the course of diagnosis of plant health problems with devastating consequences. The objective of this study, therefore, was to assess the value of short and inexpensive in-service training that is intended to improve the quality of field diagnosis of plant health problems. Eight groups of agricultural extension workers totaling 165 participants were trained during a 3-day-long intensive course in the diagnosis of plant health problems as part of the plant doctor training in the Plantwise program in Burundi (44 ± 9 years of age, 14 ± 10 years of experience in agriculture and 8 ± 7 years in extension; 10% females). Empirical data from before-versus-end and after-course analyses revealed that such courses can indeed increase knowledge and skills in field diagnosis by 20 ± 8% points during the training and by 9 ± 4% points when having worked for 8 to 19 months after training. The level of variability among extension workers was also reduced by 0.8 ± 1% points pre-course versus end-course, and by 1.1 ± 0.3% points from pre- versus post-course. Interestingly, there seemed little to no influence of work experience in agricultural extension on the quality of field diagnosis of plant health problems. More advanced educational levels only slightly improved the diagnosis quality of extension workers; gender played no role; younger workers performed slightly better than older ones. This may indicate a lack of opportunities for further training as part of continuing adult education. Our results suggest regularly repeated in-service training for agricultural practitioners may be beneficial. Investments in such training seem worthwhile since better diagnoses can lead to more appropriate pest management advice and judicious use of pesticides.

Keywords: Plantwise; diagnosis of plant health problems; agricultural extension services; plant clinics; agricultural education; capacity building; continuing professional education (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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