The role of extension in creating food Security

I have been following debates on food security in the horn of Africa. Policy makers and researchers have been indeed coming up with good proposals on how best irrigation can help create food security in the region. Israel has always been the reference of a country that is food secure,despite being in an arid land. However i still do believe for sustainable food security solution to be realized in the region we need to review approaches related to extension.

Traditionally extension personnel have been seen as channels or vessels which pass information and new technology to farmers. So routinely has the extension services become to an extent that some farmers do not need the extension services any more and neither do they attend the farmers "barazas" field days , in the long run farmers still go on with their traditional farming method which are less productive . I do not blame the farmers for their position of not being interested in the extension services. But the extension personnel; need to change their techniques of disseminating information to farmers in a more understandable ways. In addition extension personnel and policy makers need to relay more on information technology for example the use of social sites and mobile phones. This are some of the ways that food security will be realized in the region.