Capacity building interventions for strengthening farmer producer organizations through extension linkages

Abstract

Can farmer producer organizations become self-sustaining without structured extension support? This research assessed how capacity building interventions delivered through extension linkages influenced the organizational performance of farmer producer organizations (FPOs) in selected regions of France. A cross-sectional survey covered 156 FPOs across Occitanie and Nouvelle-Aquitaine regions between April 2022 and September 2023. An FPO Performance Index and a Capacity Building Effectiveness Scale measured outcomes. FPOs with embedded extension advisors scored 78.4 on governance quality versus 54.3 for those without formal linkages. Capacity building hours correlated positively with performance (r=0.74, p<0.001). Joint planning arrangements between FPOs and extension agencies produced the strongest outcomes across financial management, market access, and collective bargaining dimensions. These results suggest that extension services should move beyond occasional training toward sustained, embedded advisory relationships with producer organizations.