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, years ago. Hatch Act, years ago. Smith-Lever Act, years ago. Smith-Hughes Act, 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 * -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

Demonstration Knapp - “What a man hears he may doubt, what he sees he may possibly doubt, but what he does he can not doubt.”

The Adoption Process Kipling - “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.