1. Delegates at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the
United Nations (FAO) Conference of Ministers of Agriculture for
Asia and the Pacific in Japan in 2000 recommended that FAO
continue to provide assistance to member countries in the area
of agricultural extension. This call on FAO was indeed opportune
as there are many changes confronting the world today that have
direct implications and impact on the operations and scope of
what constitutes "agricultural extension" in today's context. As
a result, there is an increasing re-examination of the form and
strategies being tried and adopted for agricultural extension
globally with reforms implemented in many countries, including
in the Asia and Pacific region. Of particular concern is that
technology transfer and adoption has not met the needs of target
beneficiaries - despite the efforts in research and development.
2. FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP) last
organized an expert consultation relating to agricultural
extension in 1996. Beca