Admission no. :- AEM-12/Jhar/52 

Name : AMRESH KUMAR THAKUR            Address : Block-Silli, ATMA, Ranchi  Programme title : Post Graduate Diploma in

Agricultural Extension Management

Semester  I/II : Semester I  Course code : Course 101 Course title : Principles and Practices of Extension

Management 

Name of your Study centre : SAMETI, Ranchi, Jharkhand   Signature   ................................................   Date ...............................................................

INTRODUCTION

Each extension agent probably has his own understanding of what extension is. This

understanding is generally based on past experience and the particular type of extension

service in which the agent is working. In other words, there is no single definition of

extension which is universally accepted or which is applicable to all situations. Furthermore,

extension is a dynamic concept in the sense that the interpretation of it is always changing.

Extension work is an out of school system of education in which adults and young people

learn by doing. It is a partnership between the government, the land-grant institutions, and the

people, which provides services and education designed to meet the needs of the people. The

term “Extension education” was first introduced in 1873 by Cambridge University in England

to describe a particular system dedicated to the dissemination of knowledge to rural people

where they lived and worked. The term ‘’Agricultural extension’’ was only adopted in 1914

when the United States Federal Smith-Lever Act of 1914 formalized a nationwide

cooperative federal-state-county programme and gave operational responsibilities for this to

the land grant colleges and universities.

This assignment has been prepared from descriptive secondary information searched by

reviewing literature about Agricultural Extension published in webs, research journals in the

form of research articles, research reports of various organizations and books of Extension

Education scholars on this topic. The scope of this assignment is for better understanding of

the topic.

Concept of Agricultural Extension

Agricultural Extension can be defined as an on-going process of getting useful information to

farmers or rural people and assisting them to acquire the necessary knowledge, skills and

attitudes to utilize effectively this information or technology to improve productivity and

rural development. Also Agricultural Extension can also be defined as a service or system

which assists farmers and farming families, through educational procedures, in improving

farming methods and techniques to increase production efficiency and income so as to

better their levels of living, and lift the social and educational standards of rural life. In

conceptualizing agricultural extension as a social behavioural science, agricultural extension

can defined as an applied behavioral science which is applied to bring about desirable

changes in the behavioral complex of human beings usually through various strategies and

programmes of change, and by applying the latest scientific and technological innovations.

Extension has been defined as:

Extension is an informal educational process directed toward the rural population.

This process offers advice and information to help them solve their problems.

Extension also aims to increase the efficiency of the family farm, increase production

and generally increase the standard of living of the farm family.

The objective of extension is to change farmers' outlook toward their difficulties.

Extension is concerned not just with physical and economic achievements but also

with the development of the rural people themselves. Extension agents, therefore,

discuss matters with the rural people, help them to gain a clearer insight into their

problems and also to decide how to overcome these problems.

Extension is a process of working with rural people in order to improve their

livelihoods. This involves helping farmers to improve the productivity of their

agriculture and also developing their abilities to direct their own future development.

Generally the goal of the extension process is to enable people to use adopted skills,

knowledge, and information to improve their quality of life. Extension is concerned with

three basic tasks:

1. The dissemination of useful and practical information relating to agriculture and home

economics;

2. Practical application of such knowledge to help farmers/farm families and rural

people analyse their problems, and

3. Assisting farmers/farm families and rural people in using the technical knowledge

gained to better solve their own problems. Thus, helping people to use the information

in order to help themselves.

Agricultural extension work is often described as “helping people to help themselves”.

Extension work is considered as an aspect of adult education which differs from formal

or classroom education in that it prepares its clientele to tackle the problems of today and

helps them to live.

Extension education is therefore an educational process directed to bring about change in

people. It is a dynamic process which brings about changes in what people know changes in

how they react to situations and changes in what they can do with their hands.

Objectives of Agricultural Extension

Every extension programme or activity should have clearly defined objectives. Objectives

can be conceived as statements of purpose for which an extension service is established,

change in clientele’s behaviour being the ultimate end. Before starting any programme, its

objectives must be clearly stated, so that one knows where to go and what is to be achieved.

The fundamental objective of extension education is the development of the people. The main

objective of agricultural extension is as follows:

1. To communicate to individual members of the community advice and assistance with

respect to knowledge and methods of technical agriculture, with due consideration of

the economic and social circumstances of the individual and other people collectively.

2. The dissemination of useful and practical information relating to agriculture to enable

farmers farm more efficiently to increase incomes.

3. The practical application of useful knowledge to farm and home

4. Encourage farmers to grow their own food, eat well and live well.

5. Help rural, people appreciate opportunities, beauties, and privileges of rural life and

the world around them.

6. Promote better social, cultural recreational, intellectual and spiritual life among

rural people.

7. To improve all aspects of the life of the rural people within the framework of the

national, economic and social policies involving the population as a whole.

COMPONENTS OF AGRICULTURE EXTENSION

Main four elements can be identified within the process of extension i.e. knowledge and

skills, technical advice and information, farmers' organization, and motivation and self-

confidence.

Knowledge and skills

Although farmers already have a lot of knowledge about their environment and their farming

system, extension can bring them other knowledge and information which they do not have.

For example, knowledge about the cause of the damage to a particular crop, the general

principles of pest control, or the ways in which manure and compost are broken down to

provide plant nutrients are all areas of knowledge that the agent can usefully bring to farmers.

The application of such knowledge often means that the farmer has to acquire new skills of

various kinds: for example, technical skills to operate unfamiliar equipment, organizational

skills to manage a group project, the skill to assess the economic aspects of technical advice

given, or farm management skills for keeping records and allocating the use of farm

resources and equipment.

The transfer of knowledge and skills to farmers and their families is an important extension

activity and the extension agent must prepare himself thoroughly. He must find out which

skills or areas of knowledge are lacking among the farmers in his area, and then arrange

suitable learning experiences through which the farmers can acquire them.

Technical advice and information

Extension also provides advice and information to assist farmers in making decisions and

generally enable them to take action. This can be information about prices and markets, for

example, or about the availability of credit and inputs. The technical advice will probably

apply more directly to the production activities of the family farm and to the action needed to

improve or sustain this production. Much of this technical advice will be based upon the

findings of agricultural research. In many instances, however, farmers are also sources of

valuable advice and information for other farmers, and agents should always try to establish a

farmer-to-farmer link.

Farmers' organization

As well as knowledge, information and technical advice, farmers also need some form of

organization, both to represent their interests and to give them a means for taking collective

action. Extension, therefore, should be concerned with helping to set up, structure and

develop organizations of local farmers. This should be a joint venture and any such

organization should only be set up in consultation with the farmers. In the future, these

organizations will make it easier for extension services to work with local farmers, and will

also serve as a channel for disseminating information and knowledge.

Motivation and self-confidence

One of the main constraints to development that many farmers face is isolation, and a feeling

that there is little they can do to change their lives. Some farmers will have spent all their

lives struggling in difficult circumstances to provide for their families with little support or

encouragement. It is important for extension to work closely with farmers, helping them to

take the initiative and generally encouraging them to become involved in extension activities.

Equally important is to convince farmers that they can do things for themselves, that they can

make decisions and that they have the ability to break out of their poverty.

The Basic Philosophy of Agricultural Extension

Philosophy refers to a set of beliefs that is acquired or developed, based on experience and

reflection on the world and serves as a guide to action. It reflects the organization’s

basic beliefs, values, and aspirations. It is a body of principles governing human activities. A

philosophy of agricultural extension is, essentially, an understanding of ideas which an

individual agricultural extension worker holds about rural people and rural environment. An

extension worker’s philosophy consists of the ideas he holds as important and which

influence his attitude towards rural people and serve as guidelines to extension work. If he

believes that rural people are intelligent and capable of making use of educational

opportunities, he is likely to provide such opportunities and assist the people in benefiting

from them. On the other hand, if he down-grades the capabilities of rural people, he is likely

to assume negative attitude for them and consequently will encounter negative reaction from

the people.

Agricultural extension is based on the philosophy that:

1. Rural people are intelligent, capable and desirous of acquiring new information and

making use of it for their family and community improvement. This assumes that

direct approach to the people is required, and that friendly relationship and mutual

trust between the extension worker and the people is assured. It also means that the

extension worker must have a thorough knowledge of the peoples’ problems.

2. It is based on the principle of helping people to help themselves. The extension

approach to economic development is, first, develop the people, and they will develop

their farmland, their livestock, their educational and recreational institutions, their

public services and anything else they wish.

3. That if farm people fully understand their relationship to the natural resources and

other factors they deal with, it is possible for them to attain personal satisfaction in

their way of life.

4. Each individual is unique and important. People differ as to values and goals they

hold. Extension education fosters action to realize values and attain goals which will

aid them in establishing new ones.

5. That the aims and objectives of extension are not static. These must be modified on

the basis of individual and social needs. It is the duty of extension to determine

people’s need and to help them to acquire knowledge that spurs or inspires them to

action.

6. Basic philosophy of extension to teach people how to think and not what to think.

Through the acquisition of ability to think and to take positive action on the basis of

mature deliberation, the individual can accept new ideas and practices which will help

to improve their standard of living.

The Basic Principles of Agricultural Extension

Certain basic principles underlie the conduct of agricultural extension work. These principles

differ with respect to the kind of community in which extension education is carried on.

Extension work is directed to changing people’s way of doing things in specific pre-

determined way believed to be desirable for individuals and the entire society.

The basic principles of agricultural extensions are as follows:

1. Extension should start where the people are. Extension should work at the level

where the people are, that is, at their level of knowledge, understanding, interest and

degree of readiness. In order to motivate the people to adopt the new techniques, it is

important that extension worker should start in the existing environment and

conditions.

2. Based on the need and interest of the people. Extension should be based on the

needs and interests of the people which are closely related to improving their

livelihood through increasing farm production and their physical environment. It is

imperative therefore to conceptualize the basic needs of the people in the rural set up

since the needs and interests of people vary from one set of people to the other due to

difference in culture.

3. Help the farmers to help themselves. Extension should assist farmers to determine

their own problems, help them to find desirable solutions and to encourage them to

take action. An extension worker cannot go far with people unless they want to help

themselves, therefore programmes must start with the felt needs of the people

and proceed to others that are also needed by them.

4. The principle of co-operative work must be pursued to logical conclusion. This is

so because the best programmes are those determined by the local people and

extension staff working together. Planning of programmes with the people is an

important part of extension teaching. People understand a programme better and are

more likely to support it if they participate in its creation. Planning is also a learning

process. By participating in programme planning, people learn to work together.

Decisions that are collectively made are stronger and are more acceptable than the

decisions that are passed and imposed on them from the outside.

5. Extension workers should work with all members of the family. The family

should be regarded as a working unit in the home and in the field. Religion, race or

political interests should be put aside in working with rural people; extension worker

should treat them as rational adults who are capable of making their own decisions.

6. The principle of the use of variety of teaching methods. The implication of this

principle is that, the more the variety of ways a topic is presented and practised, the

quicker the people tend to grasp the subject matter.

7. Voluntary participation. Participation in extension programme is voluntary and

therefore programmes must meet the varying needs of individuals. Participation in

extension programmes differ significantly in age, sex, education, attitudes, interests,

needs and economic and social values. Programmes must therefore be attractive and

tailored to meet the needs and interests of the varying groups.

8. Principle of leadership. Extension workers should take advantage of any existing

local groups to involve the people in extension programmes. The people in rural areas

tend to listen more to the local leaders than even the extension workers since they are

power brokers and the inability of the extension agent to work with them makes it

impossible for him to succeed in his programmes. The existence of these local leaders

makes it possible for extension agents to spread his service over a wide area.

9. Subject matter covered in extension must have definite purpose and must be specific

so that programme would be able to achieve the purpose for which it was established.

The subject matter here refers to the content of the extension programme, which must

be relevant to the lives of the rural people and must therefore be useful to them. The

subject matter covered must therefore be attainable within the time available, and

within physical and economic resources of clientele, and within the social condition

and learning ability of the participants.

10. The principle of constant evaluation must be followed. It should appraise

periodically its work in the light of existing and changing conditions so that it can be

seen whether the objective are being achieved.

11. Learning is a gradual process and therefore results must not be expected too soon.

Research evidence has shown that learners must be exposed to new ideas over a

period of time and in variety of ways before they begin to respond to them. The rural

people must not be rushed as they do not learn at the same rate. This principle must be

put in mind when basic things are expected from the rural people. The adoption rate is

therefore to be considered as a gradual process.

12. Extension should be based on facts and knowledge. This principle can be achieved

through the process of working closely with the researchers and the farmer. Therefore,

extension in this regard will be seen as an intermediary or a link between researcher

and the farmer.

THE PROCESS OF EXTENSION

The extension education is the continuous and participatory process.

The extension education involves five major steps i.e. situation,

objectives, teaching. evaluation and reconsideration.

First Step. The first step consists of collection of facts and analysis of

the situation. Facts about the people and their enterprises: the

economic, social, cultural, physical and technological environment in

which they live and work. These may be obtained by appropriate

survey and establishing rapport with the people.

Second Step. The next step is deciding on realistic objectives which

may be accomplished by the community. A limited number of

objectives should be selected by involving the local people. The

objectives should be specific and clearly stated, and on completion,

should bring satisfaction to the community. Objectives should state the

behavioral changes in people as well as desired economic and social

outcomes.

Third Step. The third step is teaching, which involves choosing what

should be taught (the content) and how the people should be taught

IDENDIFICATION OF SITUATION

TEACHING

SETTING OBJECTIVES

EVALUATION

RECONSIDERATION

(the methods and aids to be used). It requires selecting research

findings of economic and practical importance relevant to the

community, and selection and combination of appropriate teaching

methods and aids.

Fourth Step. The fourth step is evaluating the teaching, i.e.

determining the extent to which the objectives have been reached. To

evaluate the results of an educational programme objectively, it is

desirable to conduct a re-survey. The evidence of changed behaviour

should be collected, which shall not only provide a measure of success,

but shall also indicate the deficiencies, if any.

Fifth Step. The fifth step is re-consideration of the entire extension

educational programme on the light of the results of evaluation. The

problems identified in the process of evaluation may become the

starting point for the next phase of the extension educational

programme, unless new problems have developed or new situations

have arisen.

CONCLUSION

Agricultural extension, unlike physical sciences works with people and therefore need to

understand the socio-cultural or behavioral pattern of its clients in order to help them help

themselves and convince them when we went them to change their behavour. To help people

overcome some of their problems, the extension agent must first understand why they

are behaving the way they do. Generally the goal of the extension process is to enable people

to use these skills, knowledge, and information to improve their quality of life. Extension is

concerned with three basic tasks: 1. The dissemination of useful and practical information

relating to agriculture and home economics; 2. Practical application of such knowledge to

help farmers/farm families and rural people analyse their problems. These are carried out in

an informal atmosphere, with adults as main clientele and. 3. Assisting farmers/farm families

and rural people in using the technical knowledge gained to better solve their own problems.

Thus, helping people to use the information in order to help themselves. Extension work is

considered as an aspect of adult education which differs from formal or classroom education

in that it prepares its clientele to tackle the problems of today and helps them to live here and

now. Formal education on the other hand, prepares its students for life after school years. The

essence of extension work is that as an educational process it involves the following:

(a) Working with rural people along the lines of their immediate and felt needs and interests

which frequently involves making a living, enhancing their level of living and improving

their  physical surrounding; (b) Conducting worthwhile and acceptable activities in the spirit

of cooperation and mutual respect between the extension worker and the rural people;

(c) Utilizing support activities to bring extension work and extension staff up-to-date through

use of subject-matter specialists, resource persons, in- service training, conferences;

(d) Utilizing certain teaching and communication techniques in attaining the educational

objectives of extension.

Extension education is therefore an educational process directed to bring about change in

people. It is a dynamic process which brings about changes in what people know changes in

how they react to situations and changes in what they can do with their hands.T he extension

worker must therefore do all in his power to build up mutual trust between himself and the

farmer by: (i) Demonstrating competence in needed practices or skills; (ii) Conducting

successful result demonstrations; (iii) Showing genuine interest in the farmer and his family;

(iv) Doing what he promises and only promising what he can do, and (v) Having a social

philosophy of extension which establishes a healthy relationship between the extension

worker and the people.

REFERENCES

Axinn GH. 1988. Guide on alternative extension approaches. FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations), Rome, Italy.

Shiva V. 1991. Most farmers in India are women. FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations), New Delhi, India.

Ponniah A., Ranjitha P., Sindu W. and Dirk H. Concepts and practices in agricultural extension in developing countries: A source book

C. J. Glendenning, S. Babu and K. A. Okyere Review of Agricultural Extension in India Are Farmers’ Information Needs Being Met? IFPRI Discussion Paper 01048, December 2010.

Asenso-Okyere, K., and K. Davis. 2009. Knowledge and innovation for agricultural development. IFPRI Policy Brief 11. Washington, D.C.: International Food Policy Research Institute.

www.fao.org

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agricultural_extension

http://agricoop.nic.in/AnnualReport06-07/AGRICULTURAL%20EXTENSION.pdf

Assignment AEM 101