The aquaculture sector, particularly in developing regions, holds immense potential for enhancing livelihood opportunities, improving nutritional and food security, and contributing to overall sustainability. Small-scale farmers in rural areas are critical role in unlocking this potential, yet their lack of knowledge on scientific farming practices remains a significant barrier. In India, the Community Resource Person (CRP) model for extension service has proven effective in scaling and replicating extension services, facilitating knowledge transfer, and ensuring practical application at the grassroots level.
Optimizing capacity-building efforts to maximize knowledge retention requires a strategic approach. The selection of promising multipliers and Trainer of Trainers (ToTs) is crucial, as is establishing framework conditions that prevent the dilution of efforts. CRPs and their trainers, selected from within the farming community, play a pivotal role in disseminating knowledge and providing continuous on-the-ground support to fellow farmers. Notably, field experiences revealed that younger, more educated CRP trainers showed higher engagement and effectiveness compared to their older counterparts, emphasizing the need for a rigorous selection process that considers technical knowledge, farm size, experience, age, social interaction skills, and commitment to community service.
Key challenges, such as low farmer retention during training sessions, highlight the need for interactive, hands-on approaches and timing sessions to fit farmers’ routines. Institutional support and structured incentives are critical to sustaining engagement. Monetary incentives have proven most effective, but non-monetary rewards, such as seeds, equipment, or social recognition, also play a significant role. Moreover, phased training sessions and materials in local languages enhance inclusivity, particularly in tribal areas.
While challenges remain, the CRP model demonstrates that with the right selection criteria, structured incentives, and adaptive training methods, high levels of knowledge retention and application can be achieved. Importantly, the approach must be tailored to the target audience. Whether the focus is upward (towards commercial interests) or downward (towards government programs, particularly within the context of development cooperation), stakeholders must decide what direction aligns best with their goals.
The findings suggest that while scaling and replicating these efforts, careful attention must be given to the context and selection process of those involved to ensure that the knowledge gained is not only retained but also effectively applied in local aquaculture practices. This approach is essential for optimising the impact of capacity-building efforts and addressing the long-term sustainability of knowledge retention in the field.
Keywords: Capacity Building, Extension Service, Knowledge Retention, Sustainability, Livelihood, Nutritional Security