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RESEARCH-EXTENSION-FARMER LINKAGE COMMITTEES

It is well documented that applied agricultural research institutions need strong collaboration with extension services to effectively respond to farmers’ identified problems. Furthermore, the extension services need the backstopping of strong applied agricultural research institutions to effectively serve the farming communities and other stakeholders. However, the main constraint impeding the achievement of effective agricultural development is weak linkages between research and extension in Ghana. For this reason, in April 1989, the then Ministry of Agriculture held the first national seminar on Research and Extension Linkages to enable stakeholders (e.g. Researchers, Extension experts and Policy makers) to share ideas on how to improve on the weak linkages that existed between research institutions and extension agencies in the country. In 1994, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) together with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) institutionalized these linkages through the creation of Research –Extension-Farmer Linkage Committees (RELCs) which was to serve as an interface between the National Agricultural Research System (NARS) and the National Agricultural Extension System (NAES) for the purpose of linking research, extension, farmers and agribusiness. The RELCs has since its inception been at the forefront of demand-driven technology generation and dissemination by providing a platform for key stakeholders in the agriculture sector to address constraints emanating from farmers all over the country.

AIM The aim is to make research and extension provide demand-driven services to farmers and other stakeholders.

OBJECTIVES The objectives of the RELCs among others include; 1.	Ensuring that research activities, especially adaptive research responds to farmers’ constraints identified through the regional/district planning sessions. 2.	Ensure that Bi-Monthly Technical Review Meetings (BMTRMs), AEA training, Farmer training, Field demonstrations, Farmer Field For a (FFF), Farmer Field Schools (FFS), Field days etc. are based on issues identified during regional/district planning sessions. 3.	Review progress made by research and extension in solving farmer’s problems and efforts made to promote proven technologies and best practices. 4.	Monitor adaptive research and extension activities at the regional and district levels.

APPROACH TO ACHIEVE OBJECTIVES In line with policies made to achieve objectives, MOFA in 1998 decentralized and devolved authority for planning and implementation of agricultural development programmes to the regions and districts which were previously zonal, based on the five agro-ecological zones of Ghana. Consequently constraints are identified through the regional/district planning sessions as well as a review of progress made by RELCs in solving farmers’ problems and efforts made to promote proven technologies and best practices.

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF THE RELCs The National Research-Extension Farmer Linkage System consist of structures at the national, regional and district levels, all performing functions aimed at more effective linkage of research and extension activities. At all levels, these bodies perform directing or steering functions and not implementing functions.

1. National Level 2. Regional Level

3. Metropolitan, Municipal, District Level

4. National Level National level comprise the National Coordinating Committee (NCC) and the National Research-Extension -Farmer Linkage Secretariat.

5. National Coordinating Committee (NCC) The National Coordinating Committee (NCC) is responsible for policy advisory functions on research-extension linkage activities.

Membership of the NCC comprises the following: •	Chief Director (MOFA) •	Deputy Director General (DDG, CSIR) •	5 National Directors of MOFA (DAES,WIAD,APD,DCS & PPRSD) •	2 Directors/Deans of Coordinating Research Institutions •	2 Representatives of RELC Coordinators (one from the North and one from the South) •	Registrar of Co-operatives •	3 Farmers Representatives’ (Northern, Middle and Southern zones)1 male:2 females •	2 Agricultural NGOs (one North, one South) 1male: 1 female

The National RELCs Secretariat The National Secretariat will be housed at MOFA-DAES. The MOFA schedule Officer will serve as the National Coordinator assisted by the Desk Officer from CSIR. The National Secretariat shall perform the following functions: •	See to the day-to-day administration at the national level •	Give secretarial support to the National Coordinating Committee (NCC). •	Document and disseminate reports •	Serve as liaison with other technical directorates.

RELC MEETINGS In order for the RELCs to effectively carry out their oversight functions, it is expected that the committees shall meet quarterly to: •	Review progress and monitoring reports on the agreed actions being implemented by the various agencies. •	Plan periodic verification visits to implementing agencies •	Plan and review technical review sessions.

RELC COORDINATOR In each region, the Director of the coordinating intuition would nominate the RELC Coordinator for approval by the Deputy Director General (DDG-CSIR) and the Director of Directorate of Agricultural Extension Services. The RAO – Extension (Regional Agriculture Officer) will be the Assistant RELC Coordinator.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE OFFICE OF THE RELC COORDINATORS •	Coordinate research work being undertaken in the region •	Moderate at Planning sessions. •	Convey issues raised at planning sessions to relevant research organizations •	Collaborate with the RAO-Extension in the development of materials for technology transfer through MOFA. •	Collaborate with the RAO-Extension to prepare reports on the implementation of linkage functions in the region. •	Collaborate with the RAO -Extension to prepare annual work plan and budget for linkage functions specifying sources of funding and ensure that activities are incorporated into respective organization's work plans and budget for funding. Copies should be submitted to CSIR and MOFA-DAES. •	Identify resource persons for Bi Monthly Technical Review Meetings and Workshops •	RELC Coordinator, the Deputy RELC Coordinator and the M&E officer will monitor RELC programmes.

COORDINATING INSTITUTIONS A coordinating institution is an institution within the NARS (National Agricultural Research System) that is situated in the region and/or has a research station in the region and conducts on-farm trials in the region. Below comprises the list of the Coordinating Institutions who coordinate the research component of RELCs functions. Regions and their Coordinating Institutions

REGION	COORDINATING RESEARCH INSITUTION Greater Accra	CSIR- Animal Research Institute Eastern	CSIR- Oil Palm Research Institute Volta	CSIR- Crops Research Institute Western	CSIR- Oil Palm Research Institute Central	CSIR- Animal Research Institute Brong Ahafo	CSIR- Crops Research Institute Ashanti	CSIR- Crops Research Institute Northern	CSIR- Savanna Agricultural Research Institute Upper East	CSIR- Savanna Agricultural Research Institute Upper West	CSIR- Savanna Agricultural Research Institute

MAIN ACTIVITIES OF THE RELCs Stated below are some of the identified activities of the RELCs; •	District Level Planning Sessions •	Regional Planning Session •	Review and documentation of technologies •	Capacity Building (Training of Trainers/Technical Review Meetings, Farmers, NGO) •	On-farm Adaptive Research •	Demonstrations •	Study tour •	RELC Meetings (2×/year) •	RELC NCC Meetings (2×/year) •	Monitoring & Evaluation •	Organization of National Workshop •	Regional Review Workshop •	Vetting of CARGS (Competitive Agricultural Research Grant Scheme) Proposals

CSIR & MOFA, 2013. Ghana National Agricultural Research and Extension System.Research-Etension-Farmer Linkages Committee Manual.