(a) State seven objectives of agricultural extension. (b) List the three main types of extension teaching methods and explain any two of them
Explanation
(a) Objectives of Agricultural extension: To (i) create awareness about innovation in farming
(ii) teach farmers to adopt innovations in farming
(iii) transmit research results to farmers
(iv) send farmers problems to research stations for solutions
(v) encourage farmers to use local resources to improve their economic, social and technological status/home management
(vi) maximize the utilization of agricultural produce
(vii) develop the potentials of the people and their environment by developing their leadership skills
(viii) develop the ability of the farmer to make management decisions in agro-business
(ix) to organize farmers into cooperative societies (x) assist farmers into cooperative societies (xi) assist farmers to locate sources of credit
(xii) supervise the use of Agricultural loan by farmers
(xiii) assist farmers to locate sources of farm input
(xiv) help farmers to locate marketing channels outlets
(xv) plan and execute farming educational programmes
(b) Types of extension teaching methods (i) individual method (ii) group method (iii) mass method.
Individual: (i) person to person contact (ii) involves house/farm visitations (iii) telephone calls, letters may be employed (iv) works best when few farmers are involved (v) it is expensive and time consuming (vi) visits must be planned to avoid failure (vii) follow-up essential for success (viii) aims at arousing interest in problems which the farmer may not be aware of (ix) useful in helping farmers with peculiar problems.
Group: (i) gathering a number of farmers into convenient places (halls, farms) (ii) lecture/symposia/discussion/workshops on new farming techniques (iii) demonstrations are carried out (iv) field trips are undertaken (v) agricultural shows/field days are part of the method (v) reaches relative large number of farmers (vi) it is more cost effective (vii) influences reluctant farmers to adopt innovations (viii) directs attention on group problems and possible solutions (ix) encourages and trains local leader (x) encourages free exchange of information and knowledge common experience (x) saves time compared with individual method.
Mass: (i) involves participation of large number of farmers (ii) radios, televisions, newspapers, mobile cinemas, etc are used to convey information (iii) very effective in terms of number of audience/cost effective (iv) very fast method of communication with farmers in case of emergency e.g. outbreak of pests soil diseases (v) poor feed-back mechanism (vi) brings achievement without direct contact between the farmers and extension worker.