Agricultural Extension

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Agricultural Extension

• Aged 4713Fall 2002
• Manuel Corro

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In this class we will learn about

• Definition of Extension
• Importance of Extension in Ag. Development
• Elements for a Effective Agricultural Extension
  Service
• Alternative models in organizing Agricultural
  Extension in developing countries

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Agricultural research is important because

• Help to improve development
• economic growth
• poverty alleviation
• rural development
• improve management of natural resources
• Ag research is central for boosting productivity
• It is the primary engine of the economic growth

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Importance of Agriculture in Economic
Development

• Increase the supply of food for consumption
• Release labor for industrial employment
• Enlarge the size of the market for industrial
  output
• Increase the supply of domestic savings and
• Earn foreign exchange

Eicher and Staatz, 1998
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Definition of Extension

• Extension is an on-going process that have two
  dimensions
• Communication
• Educational
• Communicate useful information to people
• Assist people to acquire the knowledge to use
  the information or technology
• Extension or non-formal education can be used in
  agriculture and non-agric. programs

Swanson and Claar, 1984
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Agricultural Extension

• Agricultural Extension is an on-going process
  that Communicate useful information to the people
  and assist them to use the information or
  technology to improve the quality of their life,
  their families and communities.

Swanson and Claar, 1984
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The Adoption Process(AKAP sequence)

• A Farmer awareness
• K Farmer knowledge
• Testing, and
• Experimenting
• A Farmer adoption of technology or practices
• P Changes in farmers productivity

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Conditions for a successful Agricultural
Extension Service

• Organized Information based on accumulated
  knowledge and/or research, suitable for a
  particular environment.
• Information used to educate professional
  agriculturists. (higher education in Ag)
• Appropriate funds and administrative organization
  structure
• Legislative or official mandate that prescribes
  Agricultural Extension

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Elements for an Effective Agricultural Extension
Service

• Extension Agent
• Good communication skills
• Good technical knowledge
• Teaching method
• Demonstration
• Methods
• Results
• Type
• Supporting Funds
• Infrastructure

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How is Extension doing in Developing countries?
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The Many Faces of Extension in Developing
Countries

• Because extension is a process it can be
  organized in different ways.
• Extension may be implemented by the public or
  private sector
• Public sector has more Educational purposes
  (broader)
• Private extension service main purpose is to
  transfer technology (narrow)

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Agricultural Extension is not a one-shot effort.

• It entails a continuos, long term process of
  contact with farmers to understand their
  production conditions and to guide research to
  develop recommendations that respond to farmers
  needs.

Benor D., Harrison J. Q., Baxter M. 1984
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General Problems with Extension in Developing
Countries

• Organization
• Dilution of Effort
• Coverage and Mobility
• Demonstrations
• Training
• Unspecialized Staff
• Lack of Ties with research
• Status of Extension Personnel
• Duplication of Services

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Who does Extension in Developing countries?

• Federal government trough Ministry of Agriculture
  conducted most of the extension work in
  Developing Countries
• But, other institutions could be involved
• Private Sector
• Agricultural Universities
• Non-governmental Organizations

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Alternative Models to Organizing Extension

• General models
• Ministry-Based General Extension
• Training and Visit Extension (TV) World Bank
• University-Based Extension
• Agricultural Universities (Land grant system)

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Alternative Models to Organizing Extension

• Extension to selected clientele
• Commodity based Extension
• Extension as a Commercial Service
• Participatory Extension services

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Training Visit system

• Its goal was to improve Ministry based Extension
  system in developing countries
• Developed by Daniel Benor in 1970s
• Supported by World Bank loans
• A professional system of extension based on
  frequently updated training of extension workers
  and regular field visits. (TV)

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Commodity based Extension

• an example of private Extension service in Mexico
  
• Nestle Dairy Company Extension service
• Goal improve quality of milk supplied to Nestle
  factory
• Extension agent Nestle employee
• Clientele small and medium dairy producers
• Company provides some inputs ( feed, vet
  medicine, as loan