Impact of access to agricultural advisory services on rural development in the West Region of Cameroon

Abstract

Agriculture, the main activity in rural areas, is the real driver of economic growth. Agricultural growth through resulting from advisory services plays an important role in rural development by building and disseminating knowledge, to farmers including the diffusion of new technologies that they can adopt to increase productivity, and their income levels to improve upon their quality of life. Access to advisory services therefore contributes to raising the standard of living of producers through increased production, higher prices, or the combined effect of these two elements. In this perspective, the main objectives to be given in terms of rural development are dictated by the quantitative elements of growth, including increasing income, creating jobs, and diversifying services. Access to agricultural advice also brings beneficial changes in the way of life through the renewal of working conditions and the development of the producer. In this sense, it is no longer a question of controlling growth, but of orienting it differently in order to influence the quality of life.