The Performance of Agricultural Extension Approach in Crop Packages: a Case Study in Assosa and Bambasi Weredas of the Benishangul Gumuz National Regional State of Ethiopia

In Ethiopia, a formal agricultural extension was started only after the establishment of Alemaya College of Agriculture. Currently, Ethiopia is following a new system of agricultural extension termed Participatory Demonstration and Training Extension System (PADETES). According to the new strategy, the responsibility of the Ministry of Agriculture at the federal level is to formulate agricultural policies, design packages, organize and conduct training activities. The planning, execution, monitoring and evaluation of extension programs, however, fall with in the power and duties of the regional agricultural bureaus. In the Benishangul Gumuz National Regional State (BGNRS), the current extension program was started in the year 1996. Very in the beginning, the program was focused on only food crop packages. But now, the program is further expanded to livestock, coffee, and post harvest technologies. But this study mainly focused up on the performance of the program in relation to the main food crop packages of the area. Generally, planners, policy makers, researchers, administrators, farmers and other stakeholders can be the potential users of this study.