Agricultural Extension Approaches

• Agricultural approaches in extension are covered in the notes, which were prepared by Janeth L. Lacostales

What is Extension Approach?

• An extension approach represents a style of action that embodies the philosophy of an extension system
• It's a doctrine that informs, stimulates, and guides aspects of a system, including its structure, leadership, programs, resources, and linkages

Elements of an Extension Approach

• The wider concept
• The objective
• The extension institution
• The target group
• The extension functions and methods

The Wider Concept

• Considering the particular characteristics of the population is key to the concept
• Understanding the geographical and climatic conditions is essential
• Factoring in the economic and political conditions is important
• Recognizing the density of the population is a must
• Assessing the level of development in the region is crucial

The Objective

• Maintaining health and increasing agricultural productivity are key goals
• Establishing and administering self-help groups is an example objective
• Improving management practices is an aim

The Extension Institution

• Extension institutions have their own value concepts
• They also operate with their own working principles

The Target Group

• Target groups can include loosely affiliated families
• Hierarchically-structured families and clans are also target groups
• Associations of families in traditional villages are relevant
• Co-operatives and unions are potential target groups
• Businesses, firms, and governments make up some of the target groups

The Extension Functions and Methods

• Helping to solve problems is a key function
• Providing adult education is a method
• Transmitting information is another function
• Animation is also a method

Eight Extension Approaches

• General Agricultural Extension Approach
• Commodity Specialized Approach
• Training and Visit Approach
• Participatory Agricultural Extension Approach
• Project Approach
• Farming Systems Development Approach
• Cost Sharing Approach
• Educational Institution Approach

General Agricultural Extension Approach

• It is a fairly centralized and government-controlled approach
• Its goal is to improve production and the quality of rural life
• It's one form of "technology transfer" from the government to rural areas
• It is the most common approach used by government organizations responsible for promoting agricultural programs

Commodity Specialized Approach

• Focuses on promoting the production of a specific important crop
• The approach emphasizes available production factors
• Focuses on highly specialized crops produced for consumption or export
• The underlying assumption is productivity and can be increased most effectively by concentrating on one commodity
• The purpose is to increase the production of a particular commodity
• It is controlled by the commodity organization
• Implementation tends to be in the form of instruction by extension staff from the commodity organization
• Success is measured by total production of the specified crop

Project Approach

• This approach focuses efforts on a location for a period of time using outside resources
• Part of the purpose is to demonstrate techniques that can be extended and sustained after the period
• The key assumption is better results can be achieved in a particular location with large infusions of outside resources
• The purpose is to demonstrate what can be done in a few years
• Program planning is controlled outside the village, with the central government, or the donor agency
• Implementation involves allowances for field staff, transportation, facilities, equipment, and sometimes housing
• Success is measured by short run change

Farming Systems Development Approach

• Farmers are assured technology recommended to them is suited to them under local farming conditions
• The approach adopts farmer-lead-to research-extension with technical extension personnel
• It uses a holistic approach at the local level
• It is based on the assumption that readily available technology does not meet the needs of small farmers
• The purpose involves extension personnel having the appropriate technology
• Shared jointly by local farm men and women, agricultural extension officers, and agricultural researchers.
• Implementation is through partnership of research and extension personnel with the local people using a system approach to the farm
• Success is measured by the extent of adoption of the process and technologies

Training and Visit Approach

• It is a fairly centralized approach
• Has a rigorously planned schedule of visits to farmers with training of agents
• Close links are maintained between research and extension
• Agents are involved only in technology transfer
• It is based on the assumption that Extension personnel are poorly trained, not up-to-date, and stay in their offices.
• The purpose is to induce farmers to increase production of a specified crop.
• Program planning is centralized and what and when to teach tend to be made by the professionals and given to farmers.
• Implementation relies on village-level extension workers with individual contact farmers
• Success is measured by increases in yield and crop production

Cost-Sharing Approach

• This is centered on sharing the cost of the extension program
• The costs are shared between sponsors of the program and the target groups for the program
• Its underlying assumption is any non-formal education program achieves goals if those who benefit, share parts of the cost
• The purpose is helping farm people learn what they need to know for self-improvement
• Program planning and implementation is shared by the various levels
• Success is measured by peoples' willingness and ability to provide some share of the cost

Participatory Agricultural Extension

• It focuses on the expressed needs of farmers' groups
• The association of farmers takes a vital role in program planning
• It is founded on the assumption that farmers have much knowledge which must be integrated with outside information
• The purpose is to increase production and consumption to enhance their life
• Program planning and implementation is controlled locally, often by local associations through meetings
• Success is determined by the participation of farmers and the continuity of the local extension organizations

Educational Institution Approach

• It uses educational institutions that have research ability to provide extension services
• It involves the participation of schools, colleges, and universities to the extension work
• Success is determined by attendance and the extend of farmers' participation