Extensionist competencies index: a tool for the development of extensionist capacities?

Castaño Ramírez, Claudia Marcela; Rodríguez-Espinosa, Holmes; Pérez, Rosa Elsa

doi:10.1590/1806-9479.2022.265808

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Revista de Economia e Sociologia Rural

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Article • Rev. Econ. Sociol. Rural 62 (1) • 2024 • https://doi.org/10.1590/1806-9479.2022.265808 copy

Extensionist competencies index: a tool for the development of extensionist capacities?

Índice de competencias del extensionista: ¿una herramienta para el desarrollo de sus capacidades?

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Abstract

Identifying the basic competencies that a professional should possess to fulfill his or her role as an extensionist is important, since it favors the connection with the communities being accompanied. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the level of perception of the development of competencies of the extensionists, by means of an instrument designed by the authors, on a scale from one (critical situation) to five (optimal situation) using a rubric defined for each competency. The extensionist competencies index (ICE) for Antioquia was 4.1 and for Santander 3.8, which showed the potential and options for improvement to focus efforts on updating and training extensionists, which in the cases analyzed were focused on conflict resolution, information management, the ICT implementation in accompaniment processes, and alignment with the sector’s own regulations and policies.

Keywords:
agricultural development; capacity building; social innovation

Domain	Antioquia	Santander	Average
Social	4.2	3.9	4.1
Technical	4.0	3.5	3.8
Methodological	4.4	3.7	4.0
Organizational	4.0	4.0	4.0

Latent variable	Observable variable	Initial score	Competency
Social	Problem solving	3.9	Identifying conflict-generating situations within productive and social contexts and following the necessary steps for resolution within the framework of their role as agricultural extensionists
Technical	Writing proficiency	3.2	Managing information according to communicative intention and the rules established in their role as agricultural extensionists
Methodological	ICT implementation	3.5	Effectively and efficiently incorporating digital tools and resources in their relationship, communication, and accompaniment processes as agricultural extensionists
Organizational	Alignment with public policies	3.1	Understanding the regulatory and conceptual environment for alignment with extension-related public policies in the agricultural sector

Prioritized competency	Training topics for strengthening the competency	Contents
Identifying conflict-generating situations within productive and social contexts and following the necessary steps for resolution within the framework of their role as agricultural extensionists	Identifying the type of problem	Background, description methods, participatory problem recognition techniques
	Classifying the type of problem	Concept, characteristics, types, methodologies
	Selecting the most convenient solution	*Decision-making techniques, phases, qualification criteria, procedures.
	Selecting the most convenient solution	*Problem analysis methodologies and possible solutions, components, problem-solving schemes, decision making, procedures
	Implementing the solution	Process for solution traceability
Managing information following communicative intention and the rules established in their role as agricultural extensionists	Data collection	Type of information, data classification, understanding of personal data protection laws, regulations for archiving and document management, types of reports, processing techniques, report writing techniques, basic computer security methods
	Recording information	Document structure, types, and categories
	Selecting information	Elements, characteristics, composition, styles, genre classification, types of sources, regulations on information confidentiality
	Writing documents	Characteristics, textual coherence, politeness conventions, styles, elements, classification, definition, techniques, rules, types
Effectively and efficiently incorporating digital tools and resources in their relationship, communication, and accompaniment processes as agricultural extensionists	Identifying digital tools and resources “ICT recognition”	Concept, information and communication techniques, resources, elements, functions, actions
	Selecting digital tools and resources	ICT plan construction and evaluation
	Selecting digital tools and resources	Planning and executing appropriate strategies for the agricultural extension process
	Implementing ICT strategies	Considering the context and needs of the accompanied population
Understanding the regulatory and conceptual environment for alignment with extension-related public policies in the agricultural sector	Concepts related to the role of the agricultural extensionist	*Definitions of the concept of extension: rural extension, farming extension, agricultural extension.
		*Differences between professional service, technical assistance, comprehensive technical assistance (Act 607 of 2000) and rural extension (FAO), agricultural extension (Act 1876 of 2017)
	Regulations related to the role of agricultural extensionists	Regulations, laws, and strategies related to the National System of Agricultural Innovation (Act 607 of 2000) and related decrees
	Participation spaces within the regulatory framework related to the role of agricultural extensionists	Municipal Rural Development Councils (CMDR), Departmental Agricultural Extension Plans (PDEA), SNIA Superior Council, Sectional Agricultural Development Councils (CONSEA), Municipal Rural Development Committees

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