Exporting Finnish Agricultural Advisory Knowhow - Training of Agricultural Advisors in Kosovo

Authors

• Kati Partanen Savonia University of Applied Sciences, P.O.box 72, 74101 Iisalmi, Finland
• Ardita Jahja-Hoxha University of Prishtina, Agriculture and Veterinary Faculty, Boulevard “Bill Clinton”, no nr. 10000 Prishtina, Kosovo
• Jussi Juhola Association of ProAgriaCentres, P.O Box 251, 01301 Vantaa
• Paavo Maskulainen Savonia-ammattikorkeakoulu, PL 72, 74101 Iisalmi

DOI: https://doi.org/10.33354/smst.75425

Keywords:

Kosovo, agricultural advisory services, agricultural extension, continuing education

Abstract

In Kosovo conditions for agricultural production are good, climate in the region is close to ideal. However, local agricultural production is relatively low and income from agriculture for the rural population is extremely low. One of the key challenges in developing the agricultural sector and employment within is the knowledge base. Lack of business skills and modern agricultural methods added with practically no access to advisory services is the key barrier for further development of the sector. The aim of this project was to develop Kosovan agriculture through building the capacity of agricultural advisory by constructing a modern curriculum model and developing the advisors’ ability to help farms to develop their entrepreneurship.
The steps of the projects were: 1. Building a modern curriculum of agricultural advisory training according to the local needs. 2. Emphasizing the expertize of the advisor students by team working method. 3. Testing the knowledge: real enterprise’s development process and result analysis. 4. Evaluating the project and methods used.
The curriculum was built according to the competences defined in four workshops organized for stakeholders in Kosovo. Five competence areas were recognized: Communication skills, Business competence, Development competence, Production competence and Key skills for lifelong learning. Students participating in the training (27) were required to have at least a Bachelor’s degree in agriculture or related fields. The training itself was organized by team training method. The training consisted of lectures, team and independent studying and working as a team with a real farm enterprise advisory case. The team learning process was guided to increase the students’ knowledge of team building in working life. Five student teams identified the main development needs in a real enterprise case and planned a way to realize them. The entrepreneurs were satisfied with the concrete development realized during the project.
Both students and stakeholders evaluated the project to be very successful. The students’ satisfaction was evaluated by a web questionnaire and the stakeholders’ satisfaction through six focus group discussions organized in different parts of the country. 90 % of the students found training beneficial for their future career and all students were satisfied with the training. This new training model requires good cooperation among stakeholders but increases capacities of all counterparts. The Finnish agricultural advisory and training knowledge has demand.