MEANS OF COMMUNICATION FOR THE FOUR STAGES OF EXTENSION WORK IN THE FIELD DURING EXECUTION

The determinants of the most suitable means that are employed in extension work are greatly depended on the different stages of extension work and the purpose of communication in each of the stages. Some of the suitable means or methods include;

Problem analysis stage

In the analysis stage, the most suitable means are those that can facilitate two-way reflection, facilitate analysis and communication. Such as, discussion meetings, interviews, participatory survey and debates.

When these methods are used in a properly way, it encourages the participation of rural dwellers in the identification and analysis of their challenges. On the part of the extension officer, these means of communication with the target population broadens his information on individual situations and provides him with invaluable bases for diagnosis of the problem the people have.

Decision making stage

The basic aspect in this stage of decision making is analysis of different alternative solutions to solve the problem of the target audience. The most suitable method will be those by which information and bases for judgments for decision making will be provided. A proper example of such means are information meetings, demonstration of results, excursions and visit to experimental stations and agricultural farms, information pamphlets, radio programmes that include interviews were possible solutions are offered, consultations in the office, projection and discussion, photo documentation, films or rural television programmes.

Stage of implementation of alternative solutions

The stage of implementation of alternation solution is the stage that most extension officer is most familiar with and it is known as technical assistance. This is because at this stage the producer needs technical support to apply the new forms of solution. However, from the stand part of communication, it has been observe that other technical assistance is the most user form of extension work, mistakes are sometimes made or inevitable, so that there are negative consequences in the achievement of the objectives pursued at this stage.

Evaluation stage             

Bearing in mind the communication objectives that are required at this stage of evaluation, the most appropriate means would be analysis and discussion meetings, survey visit to farm and homes and office consultation.