Entrepreneurship

Extension options 
for supporting 
entrepreneurship
When developing 
new farm business 
enterprises, it is 
important that 
extension workers 
think carefully about 
what is needed to 
implement them 
effectively 
Study visits and observational study tours
Demonstrations
Talks and seminars
Problem solving techniques
Written information
Extension options for supporting 
entrepreneurship among farmers

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Extension support for developing entrepreneurial capacity 
105
farm Business School
The  Farm  Business  School  (FBS)  is  a  curriculum-
based approach to extension aimed at building farmers’ 
entrepreneurial  capacity.  Learning  takes  place  in  the 
context  of  the  participants’  farming  businesses  and 
takes place through schools set up at community level. 
Farmers work in small groups at their own pace and at 
an agreed time and duration.
 
The FBS aim to help farmers learn how to make 
their farming enterprises and operations profitable and to 
be able to respond to market demands. It helps farmers 
learn  and  increase  knowledge,  change  attitudes  and 
develop the skills needed for profitable farming – while 
working on their own farms.
 
The FBS programme is farm-based with practical 
exercises conducted at different times of the production 
season.  The  school  is  organised  around  marketable 
enterprises  selected  by  the  participants.  The  learning 
programme  is  designed  to  match  the  activities  of  the 
farm season and gradually build and reinforce farmers’ 
skills and competencies. 
 
In the FBS programme learning is recognised as 
a process that requires time for skills to be developed. 
The  knowledge  and  skills  learned  are  made  to  match 
the knowledge and skills actually needed in the various 
stages of development of the farm business.
Other extension support actions
•  Encourage farmers to stay focused on achieving goals;
•  Encourage and reward direct learning from 
stakeholders;
•  Encourage strategic thinking among farmers as part 
of their day-to-day tasks; 
•  Encourage farmers to broaden their linkages and 
make personal contacts with buyers and suppliers, 
and to develop trust.