David Acker

Women in higher education in agriculture with reference to selected countries in East and Southern Africa

Abstract In Africa, the continued under-representation of women in education is particularly severe, especially in tertiary level programs relevant to agricultural development. The underlying premises of this paper are, firstly, that African agricultural development would be better served by an increase in the number of well-trained women leaders in agricultural research, extension, training and policy. Secondly, that there are currently very few women in positions of leadership in agriculture development agencies in countries visited in this study. And thirdly, that although there is a relatively low rate of participation of trained women agriculturalists in field positions, higher education in agriculture provides a passage through which women could gain greater access to leadership positions in agriculture. This paper examines the current status of womens participation in higher education in agriculture in selected East and Southern African countries, identifies existing obstacles to their greater par...

Absorbing the shocks: The case of food security, extension and the agricultural knowledge and information system in Havana, Cuba

Since 1959, Cuba has undergone a series of political changes, and since 1989, Cuba has had to invent, evolve, and implement a new system of food production that provides lessons from which others can learn. Many of the changes since 1989 caused shocks to the food-security system. As a result many institutions and individuals had to absorb the realities of a food production and distribution system faced with major disruption. These shocks led to adjustments and adaptations necessary to ensure a secure food supply for the 11 million inhabitants of Cuba. This article focuses on adjustments and adaptations made in the extension domain within Cubas unique agricultural knowledge and information system.