Module 3

PRACTICES OF AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION

Introduction

Agricultural extension plays a crucial role in boosting agricultural productivity, increasing food security,
improving rural livelihoods, and promoting agriculture as an engine of pro-poor economic growth.
This module will make the students become aware and understand the roles and functions played by
an extension worker to be able to carry on developmental programme successfully. The philosophy
and principles of extension is also included in this module which serve as a guide or basis in making
decisions in the field of extension.

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of the module the students should be able to:

1. Identify the different roles and functions of an extension worker

2. Explain the philosophy and principles of extension.
3. Apply the philosophy and principles of extension to one’s work as extension worker.

Learning Content:

A. Roles and Functions of the Extension Worker:

1. Enabler
- enabling farmers to clarify their own goals and possibilities, and stimulating desirable
agricultural developments.

2. Educator
- advising farmers in their decision making and educating farmers on how to make better
decisions

3. Mediator
- The goals of extension include the transferring of knowledge from researchers to
farmers

4. Farmer aid
- Adoption of technology involves translating information from the store of knowledge and
from new research to farmers.
- Adaptation of technology to local condition is by helping to articulate for research systems
the problems faced by farmers

5. Facilitator
- Extension facilitates both the adoption and adaptation to local conditions.

B. Philosophy and Principles of Extension:

Philosophy – the body of principles that governs the conduct of human activity. It is a guide
to a person’s actions.
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 A Philosophy of Extension includes the set of beliefs and principles that serves
as basis for making decisions and judgments in the field of extension.

Educational Philosophy of Extension

1. Humanism – Man, his interest, and development are central and dominant

2. Pragmatism – the value of ideas, knowledge and skills that extension offers its clientele is
measured in terms of the practical consequences to these people for
extension efforts are directed.

Principles of Extension:

1. Communication and education

- Extension agents’ role is as communicator and educator.
- As communicator he/she passes on useful information or technology to people who need
them.
- As educator he/she helps rural people acquire the knowledge, skills and attitudes that will
help them effectively utilize the information or technology

2. Works with rural people

- People must participate and make decisions that will benefit them, extension agent must
assist them by providing all the information needed and possible alternative solutions to
clientele problems.

3. Accountability to clients
- Extension must justify to the organization whatever action he/she takes and be
accountable and responsible to the clientele on whatever advice or information given to
him.
- the clientele is the one to pass judgment on the success or failure of the extension
programs

4. Two-way process linkage

- Disseminate information and technology to and receive feedback from clienteles so that
their needs can be better fulfilled.
- Learn from the clienteles the wealth of their experiences.

5. Cooperate with other agencies

- Extension is only one aspect of the many economic, social, cultural, and political activities
that hope to produce change for the betterment of the rural masses.
- Extension should therefore cooperate and collaborate with both GO’s and NGO’s to
accomplish the above.
- Extension can’t be effective on its own as its activities must be interdependent on other
related activities.

6. Work with different target groups

- Extension clientele is made up of various target groups with different needs, social status,
cultural and economic background.
- Extension therefore cannot offer a package of technology for all its clientele due to this
heterogeneity.
- Therefore there must be targeting of extension meaning different programs and
technology packages for different target groups.
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- Extension starts with what people know, what they have, what they understand.
- Extension is essentially an education process and is dependent on the voluntary
participation of people with whom extension works
- Extension teaches people new knowledge and skills in relation to their current interest
and needs.
- Extension employs a wide variety of extension communication strategies.
- Extension identifies and works accordingly with target categories in the community
- Extension links and establishes cooperative/ collaborative relationships with
person/organizations whose purpose is devoted to development in the rural areas.
- Extension nurtures and sustains the natural environment.
- Extension works with local leaders and encourages the spirit of self-help.
- Extension conducts regular evaluation/ assessment of its work

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 Module 4

Extension Teaching Methods and Techniques

Introduction

Extension work aims primarily to promote learning among a particular population. This
requires skilfully organized teaching methods. Teaching facts and practical skills is a relatively easy
task; getting people to understand, accept and apply them is the difficult task. This is the challenge of
extension work. It is very important then that an extension worker needs to be familiarize with the
teaching methods and must have a thorough understanding of the factors to consider in choosing the
most appropriate extension technique.

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of the module the students should be able to:

1. Explain the basic concepts like teaching, methods, techniques and device
2. Enumerate and discuss the factors to be considered in choosing the extension teaching
methods
3. Identify the three categories of extension teaching methods and explain the relationship with the
adoption process
4. Name the different extension teaching methods, its characteristics, features and its advantages
and limitations

Learning Content

Definition of Important Concepts

Teaching – is the process of transmitting ideas, information, technologies from one person to another
with the intent of enhancing/modifying the learner’s knowledge, attitudes and /other
skills.
Method - refers to the systematic procedure employed by extension worker in getting the vital
information across the client learners. It includes everything one does or refrains to do
which causes behavioral changes in the individual learner.
Techniques – refers to the art or skill of performance. The extension worker’s teaching technique
spells the success or failure of the methods employed. This involves the use of action or
gestures, changing facial expressions to depict moods, varying voice pitch, tempo and
timbre.

Factors to Consider in Selecting Teaching Methods:

1. Nature and complexity of the subject matter

2. Changes expected in people as reflected in the objectives
3. Extent of learners’ knowledge and/or use of information
4. Number of people to be reached
5. Status of people to be reached (econ., social, educational)
6. Relative effectiveness of the method
7. Manner in which methods selected or used complement each other

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Typology of Extension Methods:

1. Individual Extension Methods - methods under this category provide opportunities for face
to face or person to person contact between the rural people and the extension
worker. These methods are very effective in teaching new skills and creating
goodwill between farmers and the extension workers.

Forms of Individual Methods in Extension:

▪ Farm and Home Visits - to give or receive information; get acquainted and establish
rapport with the clientele and his family; to contact local leaders; and to
establish/supervise result demonstration.

▪ Office calls - the reverse of the farm and home visit since the clientele is the one who
goes to the extension office to seek for technical assistance or information from
the extension worker.

▪ Informal contacts/discussion -Unstructured and /or planned meetings with clientele in

an informal setting. It can take place on the following: Street, Market place,
Local celebrations. It provide EW with an opportunity to meet clientele in an
informal situation and facilitates the establishment of a personal bond,
discussion of problems, and recommendation of solutions.

▪ Letter – Used by extension worker to transmit official business.

Advantages:
- Appropriate for dealing with a unique problem that calls for a major decision by
the farmer
- Provides for a more private mode of dealing with farm and household problems
and their solutions
- Can increase farmer’s trust on the extension agent

Disadvantages:
- Costly in terms of extension agent’s time and travel
- Only a small portion of problems may be reached
- Could create jealousy among farmers who are less frequently in touch with
extension agent
- Success highly dependent on farmer’s trust on the extension agent.

2. Group Extension Methods - Under this category, rural people or farmers are contacted in
a group which usually consists of 20 to 25 persons. These groups are usually
formed around a common interest. These methods also involve a face-to-face
contact with the people and provide an opportunity for the exchange of ideas,
for discussions on problems and technical recommendations and finally for
deciding the future course of action.

Forms of Group Methods in Extension:

▪ Farmers’ class/seminars - a direct method of transferring information to develop the

skills and broaden the knowledge of participants on a particular topic.

▪ Lectures/talks - a prepared oral presentation on a given subject by a trainor or a

resource person while the audience is usually passive or simply taking notes or
just listening. This is to inform the participants about a specified subject matter.

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▪ Group meetings - a gathering of the officers and members of an organized group, or a
group of intended clientele with the extension worker for a definite purpose like
planning of activities to be undertaken; monitor the implementation of plans and
programs; evaluate activities; resolve conflicts, problems encountered by the
group.

▪ Demonstrations (Method and Result):

Method Demonstration - a method of teaching wherein the procedures involved in a

particular skill or technology are performed or shown to the clients. It
emphasizes the principle of “learning by doing” because the extension worker
not only “tells how” but also “shows how” the skill is being done.
Result Demonstration - shows by example the practical application of a recommended
idea or practice through a local proof of what happens after the idea or practice
has been adopted.

▪ Field days - Day or days in which an area containing successful farming or other
practices is open for people to visit. The purpose of which are the following:
- Permit extension clientele to observe personally and ask about successful
farming practices
- Create a situation in which informal contacts and learning can take place.
- Normally held once or twice a year usually in each crop season.
- Held on farms, experimental stations or government centers to demonstrate
successful farming techniques.
- Helps to promote better farming by putting the best agricultural exhibits on
display, transmitting research results and providing an opportunity for
farmers to see and discuss the demonstrations with one another and with
the technical specialist.

▪ Tours/Excursions/Field Trips - a planned and guided visit of a group of participants to

a specific site or sites for the purpose of obtaining first-hand information about
an organization and its services/products. It is a means of showing the
participants how people are doing certain livelihood or rural development
activities.

▪ Fairs/Exhibits - public display of technologies, innovations, products or even services

available to the farmers, fisherfolks, entrepreneurs in particular, and the public
in general. This is to give information; show how a certain process is done;
encourage participation; promote an innovation/ technology/product; and give
recognition.

▪ Role Playing – method of adopting roles from real life. “Role fitting and role taking “ are
other terms sometimes used to describe the process. The technique of role-
playing offers an opportunity for practicing skills in “doing” and implementing.

▪ Conference – Meeting of individuals, preferably a small number usually in a round table

situation who meet for a specific purpose.

▪ Farmers Field School – is a season long event conducted in the farmer’s field wherein
the farmers are encouraged to explore and discover for themselves new
technologies in a systematic manner and make decisions based on their own
learnings.

Advantages:
- Possibility of greater extension coverage
- More cost-effective than individual methods
- Farmers could learn from each other through discussions and sharing
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 - Group could create supportive atmosphere and could move farmers to concerted
action.

Disadvantages:
- Could create friction among group members if extension worker is not good at
facilitating/moderating discussions.
- Farmers may find it difficult/embarrassing to discuss their more sensitive
problems.

3. Mass Media Extension Methods -An extension worker has to approach a large number of
people for disseminating new information and helping them to use it. This can
be done through mass-contact methods conveniently.

Forms of Mass Media Extension Methods:

▪ Print media: leaflets, bulletins, newspapers, etc. - include different publications used
to disseminate technologies and other valuable information to intended clienteles.
Print media are effective because: people have confidence in the information in printed
form; comes in attractive and handy formats; information is usually well organized and
written in a language the intended readers can easily understand; can be used to
supplement other teaching methods.

▪ Primer – is a pamphlet of more than four pages containing essential information

on a technology package.

▪ Leaflet – is a single sheet printed material containing brief information on a

technology package.

▪ Brochure – Thin unbound book containing a specific topic more detailed than a
leaflet.

▪ Handouts – Supplemental to lecture, contains some topics/important information

discussed in a lecture.

▪ Newsletter – A regularly Issued publication, keeps people updated to what is

happening in their field of interest.

▪ Factsheet – Contains useful information/instructions about a specified subject

matter. One-page continuous publication.

▪ Photonovel – Generic for printed material in comics format. Includes illustrations

and text.

▪ Newspaper – Provides a valuable channel for transmission of educational

information where they exist and where rural people received and read them.

▪ Flyer – is a single sheet printed material summarizing an information on

technology package or component technology. Bears print only on one side.

▪ Bulletin – is a semi-technical publication on a package of technology intended for

extension workers.

▪ Poster- Single sheet visuals containing photographs and captions to highlight a

recommendation and promote awareness. Intended to attract initial attention or
provide constant reminder about a recommendation or message.

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 ▪ Broadcast Media

▪ Radio – Presentation medium which basically makes use of the audio mode in
disseminating information simultaneously to thousands or millions of potential
receivers.

▪ Television – Adds another dimension to the capability of radio. One does not only
hear but can also see the event, object or the person disseminating the
information.

Advantages:
- Faster information dissemination to a large number of people.
- Therefore, more cost-effective.

Disadvantages:
- Not effective for bringing audience to the higher stages in the adoption process.
- Difficulty of getting immediate feedback.

Requirements for Effective Extension Teaching:

1. Specific and clearly defined learning objectives. Statement of objectives should identify:
- people to be taught
- behavioral changes to be developed in the learners
- content or subject matter to which the behavior is related
- life situation in which the action is to take place.

2. Extension agent’s mastery of the teaching method to use

- Implications: Mastery demands that extension agent also knows the most appropriate
teaching method to use for the subject matter to be taught and the particular group of
learners.

3. Extension agent’s mastery of the subject matter content to be taught

- This requires up-to-date knowledge based on the most recent research findings and
current events.

4. Extension agent’s good knowledge of the learners especially their life situations particularly
their needs and problems.

5. Extensions agent’s good working and practical knowledge of the psychology of adult learners.

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