Hello, In this class we are going to be studying Agricultural Extension, meaning, objectives, Roles and functions of agricultural extension and Thier problems.
Table Of Contents
- State the meaning and importance of agricultural extension
- Describe the problems facing agricultural extension in West Africa.
- Describe various agricultural extension programs in Nigeria.
- Roles or functions of agricultural extension.
Meaning of Agricultural Extension
Agricultural extension can be defined in many of the following ways:
Meaning of Agriculture extension: It is a process whereby modern farming techniques and research findings are taken to the Farmers through extension workers, and problems of the Farmers are taken to research institutions for solution.
Agricultural extension is an informal, out of school voluntary agricultural education involving The spread or dissemination of information on recent improved development in agriculture from researchers to the Farmers through extension agents.
Another meaning of Agricultural extension is the process, system or service which assist farmers or Farm people through educational procedures in improving farming methods and techniques.
OBJECTIVES OF AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION
- To help people living in rural areas to recognize and take interest in their problems.
- Another objective of agricultural extension is to convince people to make themselves available to the thought how to raise their standard of living by their own effort, using their own resources and initiatives, and encourage local leadership.
- Another objective of agricultural extension is to educate farmers to abandon unproductive traditional ways of Farming for improved and scientific farming techniques.
- To help improve the health of rural dwellers through better nutrition, and using their own farm produce.
- To help accelerate rural development / collection and collation of basic information relating to rural programmes.
- Another objective of agricultural extension is to help farmers to access and supervise the use of agricultural loans.
- To link farmers with research institutes.
- Identification of proper marketing channels.
ROLES OR FUNCTIONS OF AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION
Agricultural extension is very important for the development of Agriculture in West Africa and across the globe. Government should encourage agricultural extension services for the following reasons:
Below are the Roles and Functions Of Agricultural Extension:
1. Increase in agricultural production: it encourage farmers to increase their production of food crops, cash crops and livestock.
2. Teaches improved farming Practices: this is another role and functions of agricultural extension, it teaches farmers improved practices in the cultural cultivation, rearing and processing of crops and livestocks.
3. Collection and collation of basic information: Another role and functions of agricultural extension is that it helps collect and collate basic information relating to rural programs.
4. And intermediary between Farmers and research institutes: it act as an intermediary between Farmers and research institutes.
5. Supervision of Agricultural loans: Here is another role and functions of agricultural extension, it helps to supervise the beneficiaries of agricultural loans. Learn more about sources of Agricultural finance and loan here
6. Challenges people’s attitude towards their problems: it helps to challenge people’s attitude towards their problems.
7. Raising standard of living: Another role and functions of agricultural extension is that it helps to raise the standard of living of the Farmers.
8. Teaches Land Management techniques: It introduces and teaches farmers land management techniques which increased land fertility and productivity.
9. Teaches improved Practices in product processing: It enables farmers to be taught improved practices in processing of livestock and crops.
10. Acquisition of skills: Another important roles and functions of agricultural extension is that it helps the Farmers to acquire skills and specializations in the production of crops and livestock.
11. Identification of proper marketing channels: it helps to identify proper marketing channels for the Farmers to sell their products.
12. Implementation of auxiliary programmes: it helps in planning, organizing and implementing auxiliary programs, example: Young Farmers club.
13. Assistance to foreign experts: Another roles and functions of agricultural extension is that it enables extension officers to give necessary assistance to foreign expert visiting states on the invitation of government, in order to carry out various feasibility studies in various field of Agriculture.
14. Supervision of Agricultural Development programmes: It assists in supervising and evaluating agricultural development programmes.
PROBLEMS FACING AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION
Problems of agricultural extension or problems facing or militating against agricultural extension in West Africa and across the globe includes:
1. Inadequate farming input: Farm or agricultural input are inadequate and often get to the users (farmers) very late.
2. Non-involvement of extension officers: The subject of matter specialists (agricultural extension officers) are often not properly involved.
3. Another problem facing agricultural extension is the inadequate transport facilities: There is inadequate transport facilities for extension staff.
4. Inadequate motivation of extension agents: Extension agent are not sufficiently motivated, that’s another problem of agricultural extension.
5. Poor supervision of farmers: Here is another problems of agricultural extension, the supervision of the Farmers by the extension agents is weak or poor.
6. Delay in information: Information to farmers is usually delayed and distorted due to poor training of extension agents.
7. Inadequate extension workers: Very few extension workers are available to work with too many farmers, i.e, there is low extension farmer ratio.
8. Ignorance of the tradition and custom of local communities: Many agents are ignorant of the traditions and custom of their target communities and often run foul of their system, making it difficult for them to receive audience.
9. Poor communication facilities: Poor facilities for extension communication which limits the scope efficiency of coverage.
10. Illiteracy of the Farmers: This is another problem of agricultural extension, target farmers are largely illiterate and find it difficult to follow instructions.
11. Inadequate monitoring of extension: There is poor or inadequate monitoring of the activities or performances of the extension agents because of difficulties. Therefore, mediocrity is often perpetrated.
12. Inadequate extension tools: Extension tools and facilities are grossly inadequate for the extension work to succeed.
13. Conservation of farmers: The conservation of farmers makes changes difficult.
14. Undefined roles for Agents: There is no properly define roles for extension workers. Hence, they are not effective in their work.
15. Language barrier: This is another problem of agricultural extension: as a result of the low level of education of most farmers, there is lack of understanding between the extension workers and the Farmers.
16. Non-involvement of Farmers: During the planning of extension services, farmers are not involved in the entirely programme. This may lead to the failure of such programme.
17. Corruption of extension personnel is another problem of agricultural extension: Some extension personnel are corrupt as they divert fund meant for extension services for their personal gains.
Revision Questions
- (a) Define agricultural extension
- State the objectives of agricultural extension
- What are the roles of functions of agricultural extension?
- State the problems facing agricultural extension in Nigeria.
Alright thanks