(a) What is Agricultural Extension? (b) Enumerate seven roles of an Agricultural Extension Worker.
Explanation
(a) Agricultural extension is the process whereby the beneficial products of research are taken to the farmers and the problems of farmers taken to research institutions for solution. Agricultural Extension can also be defined as the process / system / service which assists farmers / farm people through educational procedures in improving farming methods and techniques.
(b) Functions / Roles of an extension agent / worker include:
(i) He consults and reflects rural or agricultural development projects.
(ii) plans and executes farming educational programmes.
(iii) organises and supervises farmers' groups, i.e. meetings, co-operatives and their workers.
(iv)conducts / organises training farmers
(v) Liaise with other agencies that may have influence on rural environment and the farmers.
(vi) helps improve the outlook of farmers towards their problems and difficulties.
(vii) acts as a connecting link between researchers' and the farming communities.
(viii) teaches improved farming practices to farmers.
(ix) evaluates agricultural extension programmes and projects
(x) supervises the utilization of Agric loans