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Small Farm Resource Centers As Informal Extension Hubs In Underserved Areas: Case Studies From Southeast Asia, Abram Bicksler, Patrick Trail, Ricky M. Bates, Richard R. Burnette, Boonsong Thansrithong

Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education

A Small Farm Resource Center (SFRC) is an informal in-situ extension model used for testing promising agricultural and rural livelihoods options on a physical central site, with some measure of extension methodology. There is a need to evaluate SFRCs as research-extension models operating outside of formal government extension and advisory services. Seven SFRCs located in Southeast Asia were studied to classify extension methodologies adopted by those centers, evaluate extension efficacy, and to provide recommendations for amplifying their services. On average in 2013, SFRCs were 21.1 years old, covered 24.2 ha, cost 242,000 USD to establish and had a yearly operating …