Governmental Extension Services, Their Generic Problems and Potential Solutions

Publication Type

Contribution to conference

Authors

Hoffmann, Volker

Year of publication

2014

Conference name

Innovations in Extension and Advisory Services International Conference

Conference location

Nairobi

Conference date

2011

Governments should not directly engage in production or services, which are better performed by private legal entities. Sometimes it may be appropriate for the State to own or hold shares in private companies. In extension, governmental responsibilities should focus, in the long-term, on issues of public interest, with public funding and private implementation. Advisory work for private clients should be implemented by the private sector and paid for by their clients. Governments should create an enabling environment for private sector initiatives, e.g., provide and maintain the necessary infrastructure, support knowledge systems, and establish and maintain political stability and continuity and legal and physical security. The core business of governments is to develop beneficial policies and to implement them through an efficient and reliable administration.