The Farmer Empowerment through Agricultural Technology and Information (FEATI) Project was a Government of Indonesia program supported by the World Bank through IBRD Loan No. 7427-IND and IDA Credit No. 4260-IND. The project aimed to develop a demand-driven and market-oriented agricultural services system by strengthening partnerships among farmer groups, government institutions, agricultural research and extension agencies, and private-sector enterprises.
The project focused on empowering farmers and farmer organizations to improve productivity, income, and welfare through better access to agricultural technology, information, extension services, markets, and agribusiness opportunities. Its main areas of intervention included strengthening farmer-driven agricultural extension, institutional development and capacity building, agricultural technology assessment and dissemination, provision of knowledge and information services, and project management and implementation support.Under Technical Assistance Package II, consultancy support was provided to the Ministry of Agriculture to strengthen project implementation, institutional capacity, agricultural extension services, training, monitoring and evaluation, information management, and coordination among central, provincial, district, and farmer-level stakeholders. The assignment contributed to the broader FEATI objective of establishing a more responsive agricultural extension system in which farmers could identify their own learning and technology needs and develop stronger linkages with research institutions, extension providers, markets, and private-sector actors.
FEATI aimed to strengthen a more farmer-driven, demand-based, and market-oriented agricultural extension system. Instead of positioning farmers only as recipients of technical assistance, the programme encouraged farmer groups to identify their own needs, improve access to agricultural technologies and information, and build stronger connections with extension services, research institutions, markets, and private-sector actors.
A key approach under the programme was Farmer Managed Extension Activities (FMA), which enabled farmer organizations to take a more active role in planning and managing extension and learning activities. The programme also supported institutional strengthening, capacity building, technology dissemination, agricultural information services, agribusiness development, and improved project management.
Under Technical Assistance Package II, consultancy services supported the Ministry of Agriculture in strengthening project implementation, institutional capacity, training, monitoring and evaluation, information management, administrative and financial management, and coordination among stakeholders at central, provincial, district, and farmer levels.Through this assignment, MADEP contributed to strengthening agricultural institutions and supporting a more participatory approach to farmer empowerment. The experience demonstrates how effective agricultural development requires not only improved technology, but also stronger institutions, better access to information, capable extension services, and meaningful participation from farmers themselves.
Key Areas: Farmer Empowerment | Agricultural Extension | Institutional Strengthening | Capacity Building | Agricultural Technology & Information | Agribusiness Development | Monitoring & Evaluation | Project Management
