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Article Title: Emerging Agricultural Extension Approach among Local Ghanaian Farmers' Application of Paulo Freres Empowerment Education Model in Supervised Extension Projects
by Moses Kwadzo

Abstract:
Public sector agricultural extension approaches in Ghana have been criticized as being ineffective in developing farmers� capabilities to deal with their production challenges instead of providing education that empowers and enables the marginalized to attain their full potential. This study aimed at exploring those attributes of Supervised Enterprise Projects, a community development tool, which has been used by agricultural students to educate and empower local farmers. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select three farmer-based organizations that benefited from the projects. Through focus group interviews the views of members of the farmer-based organizations were sought regarding the Supervised Enterprise Projects. The results of the study showed that farmers have positive views of the projects. The projects have helped to empower and develop the capabilities of the farmers to diagnose and identify their own agrarian problems and to create appropriate solutions. The effectiveness of the Supervised Extension Projects as an empowerment educational tool was attributed to the following central themes, which emerged from all the focus group discussions: confidence in the marginalized, dialogical process, inclusive and interactive participation, collective action and reflection. By incorporating these elements of Freire's empowerment education model, the public sector agricultural extension service will be better equipped to develop the capabilities of rural folks.

Keywords: extension approach; empowerment; educational practice; marginalized; farmer-based organizations

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