Keywords
agricultural extension; decentralization; Mexico; rural poverty
Abstract
Atendencytodecentralizenationalagriculturalextensionsystemsaroundtheworldcaughtmanycountriesunpreparedtorespondeffectivelytotheneedsofitsruralpopulationunderprivatizedapproachestoextensiondelivery,especiallyinregardtopovertyalleviation.MyriadinternalandexternalfactorsledMexicotodismantleitsnationalagriculturalextensionsysteminthe1990s,andadoptamoreprivatizedorcontractor-drivenapproach.Asaresult,significantchangesoccurredinthewayextensionserviceswereofferedtothepublicafterthesystem’sdecentralizationbyMexico’sfederalgovernment,althoughsomesimilaritiesremained.Afteralmosttwodecadesofdecentralization,theeffectivenessofthecurrentsystemhasbeenquestionedregardingitsprovisionofservicestomarginalizedgroupswhorepresentthemostimpoverishedofMexico’scitizens.Thishistoricalnarrativeaimedtounderstandthephenomenonbyexploringthecausesofdecentralization,comparingextensionservicedeliverybeforeandafterdecentralization,includingitsoutcome,privatizationofextensionservices,andsuggestdirectionsforimprovementinthefuture
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Recommended Citation
Uscanga, J. M.,
&
Edwards, M. C.
(2016).
Decentralization of Mexico’s Agricultural Extension Services and the Ongoing Struggle to Alleviate Rural Poverty.
Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education, 23(1).
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5191/jiaee.2016.23102
