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discourages women from joining training programs for extension agents and wastes scarce training resources. (Safilios-Rothschild 1985.)

## Csse18.-- **AMIKA:** TRAINI"G AND **POSTIMG UIoNE** EXTENSION **AGEMTS**

The Agricutturat Cotleges of Monze, Hpika, and the Natural Resource Development Coltege train agrtcultural extensfon off icers. Untit 1982, hoiever, the sytlabus used in the two-year agriculturat training course was different for men and women. Women were not given full-scate agricultural training and on grudcation were ptaced fn the Home Economics Section of the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Devetopment. This was unacceptable to women who wanted to becoee ,arcçuttural extension agents.

According to a 1984 survey by the Zanbian Departmont of Agriculture, femalo agents represented only 9% of the totat number of extension agents in those provinces ihere the percentage of femate-headed housàeolds le very high. In the Northern and Luaputa provinces for example, only 6X of the extension agents ore women), whereas in Lusaka, where the percentage of female-headed households ls lower, 24% of agents are women. There is a cLear need to step up the training of femate extension agents and post them in the f eld, where they are most needed. (Safitios-Rothschitld, 1985)

# (b) Retraining of Other Female Agents as Extension Agents

3.11 The training and recruitment of new female extension agents is a long-term process. In the shorter term, one solution is to redeploy female agents who are already teaching to rural women subjects that are closely allied to agriculture.

3.12 In many'African countries, home economists constitute a large female professional cadre. Home economists are particularly common in countries influenced by U.S land-grant extension models and in former British colonies, where they are known as domestic or home scientists. Some are also trained nutritionists and community development workers. Nigeria has 4500 trained home economists. Even Sierra Leone, a smaller country, has over 200.

3.13 Some home economists teach in primary, seuunaary, or specialized vocational schools, but many work in extension where they traditionally focus on women's domestic and reproductive roles, teaching nutrition, child care, home management, and income-generating skills in handicrafts. These topics are sometimes supplemented in rural areas by home gardening and small livestock care. In some cases, home economists have placed undue emphasis on women's domestic roles and have paid little attention to their critical role in agricultural production.

3.14 In areas that have no female extension workers, home economists could fill this void. Home economists/nutritionists/domestic scientists represent an under-used resource in many countries; planners who tap their potential will find the task of reaching rural women easier. Unlike rural adult educators and health workers, home economists already have training in agriculture. Because of their vast numbers, the regularity of their contact with rural women, and the institutionalized nature of home economics extension in many developing countries, this discipline could be very effective in providing extension advice to rural women.