Abstract

Atendencytodecentralizenationalagriculturalextensionsystemsaroundtheworldcaughtmanycountriesunpreparedtorespondeffectivelytotheneedsofitsruralpopulationunderprivatizedapproachestoextensiondelivery,especiallyinregardtopovertyalleviation.MyriadinternalandexternalfactorsledMexicotodismantleitsnationalagriculturalextensionsysteminthe1990s,andadoptamoreprivatizedorcontractor-drivenapproach.Asaresult,significantchangesoccurredinthewayextensionserviceswereofferedtothepublicafterthesystem’sdecentralizationbyMexico’sfederalgovernment,althoughsomesimilaritiesremained.Afteralmosttwodecadesofdecentralization,theeffectivenessofthecurrentsystemhasbeenquestionedregardingitsprovisionofservicestomarginalizedgroupswhorepresentthemostimpoverishedofMexico’scitizens.Thishistoricalnarrativeaimedtounderstandthephenomenonbyexploringthecausesofdecentralization,comparingextensionservicedeliverybeforeandafterdecentralization,includingitsoutcome,privatizationofextensionservices,andsuggestdirectionsforimprovementinthefuture

Keywords: agricultural extension, decentralization, Mexico, rural poverty

How to Cite:

Uscanga, J. M. & Edwards, M. C., (2016) “Decentralization of Mexico’s Agricultural Extension Services and the Ongoing Struggle to Alleviate Rural Poverty”, Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education 23(1), -32. doi: https://doi.org/10.5191/jiaee.2016.23102

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