In extension
organization, there is no one universal characteristics of extension but a
variety of activities and approaches which are known as extension. It has
already been stated that since the existence of agriculture is the basis of a
rural economy, agricultural extension is then the most common type of extension
to be found in the rural areas. But the areas of knowledge and new ideas that farmers
and their families require are not restricted to only agriculture. There are
other aspects of family life in which new knowledge and practices can lead to
improvement and upgrade of lifestyle. Extension is any activity that works with
farmers and their families in order to improve the economic as well as the
social conditions of their lives and to develop their ability to take
responsibility for their own future development.
Agricultural extension
There are probably more
extension officers that are involved in agricultural activities than in any
other aspect of rural life. Given the importance of agriculture and the need to
produce food both for the farm family and the rural areas as a whole, this
emphasis upon agricultural extension is understandable. Most agricultural
extension organization services are based upon a single crop, while others
adopt more of a whole farm approach. The choice is very much dependent upon the
local agricultural system and the national crop requirements.
Agricultural extension
service offers technical advice on agriculture to farmers, and also supplies
them with all the necessary inputs and services that they required to support
their agricultural production. It provides information to farmers and passes to
the farmers’ new ideas developed by agricultural extension research stations.
Agricultural extension programmes cover a broad area including the improved
crop varieties, better livestock control, improved water management, as well as
the control of weeds, pests or plant diseases. Where appropriate, agricultural
extension may also help to build up local farmers' groups and their
organizations so that they can benefit from the extension programmes.
Agricultural extension, therefore, make available the provision of indispensable
elements that farmers need to improve their agricultural productivity and
profitability.
The non-agricultural
extension
In the absence of a
collective term to cover the other types of extension, it is convenient to look
at them all as non-agricultural extension organization. This term includes all
the activities and efforts not directly related to agriculture or livestock production,
but which are very important to the farm families and the rural dwellers. Home
economics, family health and nutrition, population education and community
development are all categorize as the non-agricultural extension activities.
Rural extension
organization covers most aspects of rural life
When considering
extension and extension officers, all activities of the above type are included
as well. These activities also involve the basic elements and the principles of
extension which have been outlined earlier, such as knowledge, learning and
practice. Home economists and community development workers, therefore, are
known as extension officers who deal with farm families in the same way as the
agricultural extension officers. The only difference is their areas of concern
and operation.
In fact, it is becoming
increasingly common to consider rural extension as a collective term which
brings together all the agricultural and non-agricultural extension activities.
The feature common to both types of extension is that they work with families
that are in the rural areas and deal with problems in a rural environment.
Their different programmes and approaches have a common goal in operation,
which is the improvement of the lives and leaving of the rural people, and they
are both guided by common principles and ideals in operation.
This guide to all of
these, therefore, is a guide to the rural extension and is relevant to both
agricultural and non-agricultural extension officers. Given the predominance of
agriculture in the rural economy, however, there will be some emphasis on
agricultural extension within the guide. The understanding of extension, the
methods used by extension agents, the planning processes which are involved and
the qualities and skills that are also required by extension officers are
factors which are relevant to all forms of rural extension. The content and
subject-matter may be different, but the same general principles apply in both
types of extension organizations.
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