Importance of Agriculture Extension

A Presentation

ByMr. Allah Dad Khan

Former DG (AE) Visiting Professor AU Peshawar

What is Extension ?Extension refers to

voluntary out- of –school adult education programme carried out in a systematic way (affecting the livelihoods of the recipients) which makes use of teaching and learning principles and carried out in an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect.

Extension Services

1)Agriculture Extension Services2)Livestock Extension Services3)Extension Services through

Agriculture and Livestock Research System , Social Forestry

4)Extension Services through Agricultural Universities

5)Private Extension services through Projects and Non-governmental Organizations

General Definition of Agriculture Extension

Agriculture Extension provide critical accessTo the Knowledge and information that rural people need to increase the productivity and sustainability of their production system , and thus improve the quality of their lives and livelihoods and increase the standard of living of the Farm Family..Extension process offers advice and information to help them solve their problems

Importance of Agriculture in Economic Development

1. Increase the supply of food for consumption Food Security including nutrition and health.

2. Release labor for industrial employment and job opportunities

3. Enlarge the size of the market for industrial output

4. Increase the supply of domestic savings.

5. Earn foreign exchange

Importance of Agriculture in Pakistan

1. Agriculture dates back to 4500 BC in Indus Civilization.

2. Agriculture is a vital sector of Pakistan economy.

3. It accounted for 20.9 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2014-15.

4. It is a source of livelihood of 43.5 percent of the labour force of Pakistan.

5. About 25% of Pakistan ,s total land area is under cultivation.

6. Large contribution to foreign exchange earnings.

7. Increased agricultural production and high crops yield is essential for food security which make the farming systems less vulnerable to climate change.

Pakistan Ranking in Production (FAO)

1. Chick Pea ranks ( 2nd)2. Apricot ( 4th)3. Cotton (4th)4. Sugarcane ( 4th)5. Milk(5th)6. Onion (5th)7. Date (6th)8. Mango (7th)9. Rice (8th)10. Wheat (9th)11. Oranges ( 10th)

IRRIGATION1.Pakistan has one of the largest irrigation system in

World.2.Pakistan irrigates three times more area than Russia.3.Indus river and its tributeries are capable of

irrigating over 16 million hectares.4.Includes, dams , barrages, head works, canals, and

distribution channels.5.Indus water treaty of 1960.

Agricultural Extension is not a one-shot effort.It entails a continues, long term

process of contact with farmers to understand their production conditions and to guide research to develop recommendations that respond to farmers’ needs.

HOWAGRICULTURE EXTENSION SERVICES AND FARMER?

1. It helps farmers to change their behavior on a voluntary basis and helps farmers to achieve a better quality of life.

2.It increase and share new Knowledge3.It motivates, enables and provide insights.4.It helps to form opinios and there is better

decision making.5.It assists with mutual and reciprocal learning.6.It creates and shares new agricultural

technologies.7.It brings the worlds to farmer and farmers to

the world.

IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE EXTENSION SERVICES

1. Agriculture Extension is the key mechanism in the agricultural Development. Promoting poverty eradication in rural areas and ensure food security for our growing population.

2.Providing social protection programmes. Through Government ,RSPN.

3.Support and promote efforts to harmonize modern technologies with traditional and indigenous knowledge for sustainable rural development through Agriculture Advisory Service and Farm Advisory service.

IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE EXTENSION SERVICES CONTD

4.Protect and ensure sustainable use of traditional knowledge , including indigenous knowledge through FFS.

5.Provide access to credit and resources to farm based activities for small farmers through FSC.

6. A linkage between ARS, AU and Farmer .

7.Formation of Organization for Farmers .(CSG)

IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE EXTENSION SERVICES CONTD

8.Agriculture Extension uses democratic methods in educating the farmers through participatory approaches..

9. Agriculture Extension Helps in adoption of innovations, in increasing efficiency in agricultural production. It is continuous process of transferring technology till its adoption by the farmers.

10. Agriculture Extension helps in studying and solving the rural problems through public private strategy. Ensure adequate and timely supply of inputs.

11. Agriculture Extension increases farm yields and improve the standard of living of farmers and better family living.

IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE EXTENSION SERVICES CONTD

12. Agriculture Extension makes good communities better and progressive through training of communities in different disciplines.

13. Agriculture Extension contributes to national development programmes and coordinate efforts.

14.Agriculture Extension improve farm level practices and developing linkages of farmers with markets and industry based on new technologies, ideas and future pathways for sustainable growth of agro industry

FUNCTIONS OF AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION

1. Persuasion of farmers of the value of change

2. Transmission of research results to the farmers:

3. Provision of guidance to the farmers:

PHILOSOPHIES UNDERLYING AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION WORK.

1) Philosophy of democracy and culture:

2) Philosophy of Education for all:3) Philosophy of social progress4) Philosophy of teaching:5) Philosophy of Cooperation: 6) Philosophy of Leadership

ROLES OF EXTENSION AGENTS IN THE CHANGE PROCESS

• As a catalyst: The change agent speed up or accelerate the rate at which the people accept changer the rate as which the people accept change.

• As a solution giver: He/She has an idea about the farmers problems and needs and similarly render the idea in order to bring effective solution to the needs and problems of the farmers.

• As a process helper: Helpers m the process of solving the farmers problems and needs.

• As a resource linker: The extension agent serves as a link or bridge between the clienteles and where necessary inputs, research findings etc can be obtained,

THE USE OF LOCAL LEADERS IN EXTENSION WORK

Local leaders can be of invaluable assistance to an extension agent in a number of ways:

1) They can assume responsibility for certain activities in the agent's absence.

2) Help to organize local extension groups.3) Assist directly in the spread of new ideas and

practices by demonstrating them in their fields.4) They can generally serve as a point of contact

between the extension agents and farmers.5) More farmers can be reached through the local

leaders than the extension agent could by himself.6) Working through local leaders builds closer ties with

local farmers, thereby encouraging farmers' confidence in the extension service and their willingness to participate in the extension activities.

7) Enlistment of local leaders in identifying problems and developing relevant technologies will assist sustainability of change programmes.