AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION

IN DEVELOPING NATIONS

AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION IN THE U. S:

A REVIEW • ITS IMPORTANCE:

* U.S. farmers produce enough food to feed 134 people & themselves.

* U.S. farmers are world leaders in soybean, corn, wheat, rice, cotton, & red meat production.

U.S. Agricultural Education System

• Morrill Land-Grant Act, 1862 - 139 years ago.

• Hatch Act, 1887 - 116 years ago.

• Smith-Lever Act, 1914 - 89 years ago.

• Smith-Hughes Act, 1917 - 86 years ago.

COOPERATIVE EXTENSION IN THE U.S.

• AGRICULTURE

• FAMILY & CONSUMER SCIENCES

• 4-H & YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

• RURAL DEVELOPMENT

ADMINISTRATION OF COOP EXTENSION IN THE U.S.

• Federal level - USDA

• State level - Land-Grant Colleges

• Local level - County Commissioners

ADMINISTRATION INTERNATIONALLY

• Ministry of Agriculture • Ministry of Education • Private Firms• Websites * http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/chiefs/chiefs-

toc-view.html

INTERNATIONAL EXTENSION EMPHASIS

• FOOD PRODUCTION

• PRESERVATION & STORAGE

• PROCESSING

• DISTRIBUTION

AGRICULTURE PRODUCTION

• A direct linkage to an effective agricultural education system - The U.S. Model.

* Land-Grant Universities * State Ag Experiment Stations * Cooperative Extension

MISSION OF EXTENSION

• EDUCATION

* Extension transfers (disseminates) research-based information to clientele/cooperators/public.

EXTENSION LINKAGES

RESEARCH›EXTENSION›FARMERS

* Depicts the flow of technology/information to farmers from research stations through Extension.

HAVELOCK’S MODEL

• Research, Development, & Diffusion * Basic Research

* Applied Research

* Development

* Diffusion

Linkages Supporting the Family Farm

• Education• Extension• Farm Credit • Marketing• Agricultural Inputs • Processing • Research• Ag Policy

Problems in International Extension

• Qualified staff• Reliable funding • Transportation & travel funds • Communications• Understanding of Extension concepts • Frequent transfer of Extension personnel • Unfavorable farmer/Extension staff ratio

PROGRAM and POLICY PROBLEMS

• Ill defined Extension objectives

• No annual Extension plan

• Program & personnel evaluation

• Policy/Guidelines

• Suitable information for in-service

• Research-based information

• Extension development plan

Program & Policy Problems (continued)

• Little communication between Research and Extension

• Trained Extension Supervisors

• Supporting Services

PRODUCTION AGRICULTURE PROBLEMS

• Credit

• Market Access• Poor Distribution of

Agricultural Inputs

ROLE OF EXTENSION FIELD STAFF

• Change agents.

• Source of information & practice.

• The farmers’ link to the outside world.

• Train farmers as adopters, leaders, & cooperators.

ELEMENTS OF AN EFFECTIVE AGRICULTURAL

EXTENSION • National policy embodied in

legislation establishing the educational role of Extension.

• A philosophy of Extension education embodying the concept of human resource development.

ELEMENTS OF AG

EXTENSION (continued) • Sources of technical information required to

solve problems for rural people. • A source of trained field staff. • Adequate support services. • Political climate conducive to agriculture and

rural development. • Incentives for production and land tenure.

ORGANIZATION OF EXTENSION IN

DEVELOPING NATIONS • Education arm of the Ministry of

Agriculture ?

• Extension administrator part of the policy making staff in the Ministry of

Agriculture?

ORGANIZATION & STRUCTURE OF EXTENSION (continued)

• Extension’s role - provide opportunities to develop effective working relationships with research and other supporting agricultural agencies/organizations?

LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS

• Only 15 of 52 low and middle income developing countries surveyed in a recent study indicated having laws which provided Extension with an operating budget.

Recommendations for Establishing Extension

• Educational programs for the whole family.• Separate education from regulatory functions.• Freedom from political involvement. • Provide a direct linkage to Agricultural

Experiment Stations. • Financial support provided by law.

Recommendations (continued)

• Organize Extension by region to serve the best interest of farmers.

• Include the input of advisory and planning groups in program development.

• Provide incentives and encouragement for local participation.

EXTENSION NEEDS• Trained & dedicated personnel.

• Supplies, equipment, facilities, & transportation.

• Research-based information easily adaptable to agriculture & rural development.

• Financial resources.

• Administrative & political support.

SELECTING EFFECTIVE TEACHING METHODS • Number of clientele you are

attempting to serve.

• Size of local support staff available.• Availability of communications -

mail, telephone, fax, radio, news paper, television, internet, etc.

• Level of formal education

Teaching Methods Adapted to Extension Education

• Demonstration:1) Method demonstration

2) Result demonstration

3) Type demonstration

Method Demonstration

* Explain the need for the practice.

* Show operation/procedure step by step.

* Emphasize key points.

* Invite the group to participate.

* Invite questions & discussion.

Result Demonstration• Yield

• Quality

Type Demonstration• Sets a Standard

• Defines a model

DemonstrationKnapp - “What a man hears he

may doubt, what he sees he may possibly doubt, but what he does he can not doubt.”

The Adoption ProcessKipling - “A man will remember what he learns from an equal long after his masters words are forgotten.”

DEMONSTRATION (continued)

DELIVERY METHODS • Personal contact/on-farm visits • Field days• Publications • Office meetings• Workshops• Short courses • Telephone

TRAINING VOLUNTEERS

• Purpose: To inform. 1) Modified Lecture

* be enthusiastic about your subject.

* visualize audience & needs

* prepare adequate information

* arrange facts in logical order

TRAINING (continued)

* use clear visuals & familiar words

* use round numbers.

* concentrate on main ideas & end with short conclusion.

TRAINING SESSIONS FOR VOLUNTEERS (continued)

2) Conferences & discussion meetings (updating)

3) Tours

4) Short courses

5) Committee meetings

6) Mass media

PRINT MEDIA• PUBLICATIONS

• BULLETINS

• FACT SHEETS

• NEWS LETTERS

• BROCHURES

• NEWS PAPERS

BROADCAST MEDIA

• RADIO

• VIDEO TAPE

• TV

• INTERNET

WHY PUBLICATIONS ?• Confidence in the written word.

• Accurate detailed information.

• Substitutes for personal letters.

• Creates interest/desire for additional information.

• Subject matter from a bulletin may be used in a news article.

• Printed materials filed for future reference.