This paper is a synthesis of experiences from the project “Improvement of Rural Agricultural Technology Extension System in Asia (RATES)”, which was implemented during 2023-2025 in 12 Asian Countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Mongolia, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Uzbekistan and Vietnam). This project, funded by the Rural Development Administration (RDA) of the Republic of Korea through the Asian Food and Agriculture Cooperation Initiative (AFACI), was primarily launched to enhance the capacities of extension and advisory services (EAS) in these countries.

The Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services (GFRAS), through its sub-regional network, Asia-Pacific Islands Rural Advisory Services (APIRAS) has been supporting the implementation of the RATES project. The RATES project interventions, especially through demonstrations of new technologies, training for farmers and extension personnel, and the development of numerous knowledge products, have significantly strengthened the capacities of the public extension system in these 12 countries.

This paper reflects on the evolution and progress of the RATES project during its three years of implementation and takes stock of the lessons it offers. The main findings of this paper are as follows:
Firstly, public extension in Asian countries needs more support to enhance its capacities to address the new and increasingly complex challenges farmers face.  

Secondly, efforts should be made to organise more targeted support to extension and advisory services (EAS) based on specific priorities for capacity enhancement in each country.

Thirdly, institutional reforms in public extension are long overdue, and supporting this reform process critical to ensuring the long-term sustainability and effectiveness of EAS. This would necessitate upport for organisational development, policy engagement, training-of-trainers, and partnership development.

While these insights are useful, the paper argues that more systematic efforts are needed to strengthen EAS capacities in Asia. This would necessitate enhancing investments in EAS through national budgets and external development assistance.

Suggested Citation: Sulaiman, R. V., Niranjan, D. A., & Amanah, S. (2026). Enhancing Extension Capacities: Improvement of Rural Agricultural Technology Extension System in Asia (RATES), Project Supported by RDA-AFACI (2023-2025).
GFRAS, APIRAS, and RDA-AFACI.