Chapter

EXTENSION
APPROACHES
 Overview

• Axinn (1988) defines an extension approach as a style of action,

embodying the philosophy of an extension system which, by and
large, determines the direction of nature/style of the various
aspects of that system, such as its structure, leadership,
programs, methods and techniques, resources and linkages
 Learning Objectives

At the end of the chapter, students should be able to:

1. . enumerate the different Extension approaches according
to Axinn; and
2. describe the features of each of these Extension
approaches.
 Elements of an Extension Approach
• Haverkort and Roling (1984 as cited by Bolliger, et al., 1995)
describes an extension approach as the interaction of a number
of elements, to wit:
 The wider context
• Extension takes place in a practical situation made up of:
- particular characteristics of the population such as culture,
religion and the
- predominating value concepts
- the geographical and climatic conditions
- the economic and political conditions
- the density of the population
- the degree to which the region has been developed
 Elements of an Extension Approach

 The Objective
• Extension contributes to higher objectives, such as the
maintenance of health and the increase of agricultural
productivity; the establishment and administration of self-help
groups (cooperatives, committees etc.); the improvement of
management etc. The task of extension is to enable the target
group to achieve their aims by themselves.
 Elements of an Extension Approach

 The Extension Institution

People working in an extension institution have their own
value concepts, their own working principles. The answers to the
following concrete questions vary according to the individual value
concepts and principles:
- Are farmers containers we must fill or sources we can tap?
- How important to us is a relationship of trust between
extension worker and farmer?
- Do we tend to deal with only the most capable farmers,
since it is with them that our efforts are most worthwhile?
 Elements of an Extension Approach

 The Target Group

 Extension work involves target groups with different social
structures:
- groups of loosely affiliated families
- hierarchically-structured families and clans
- associations of families (traditional villages)
- co-operatives, unions
- business enterprises, firms, governments.
 Concealed behind these structures of the target groups lie their
value concepts and principles
 Elements of an Extension Approach

 The Extension Functions and Methods

If the extension service is to achieve its aims, it must assume
certain functions. Among these, in particular, are:
- help with solving problems
- adult education
- transmission of information
- animation
An extension institution must also fulfill three other functions
such as the following:
- clarification of the target population's needs
- developing suitable extension topics and methods
- planning and assessment of extension activity
 Extension Approaches

 The eight (8) approaches, according to Axinn (188) are as

follows:
1. The General Agricultural Extension Approach
2. The Commodity Specialized Approach
3. The Training and Visit Approach
4. The Participatory Agricultural Extension Approach
5. The Project Approach
6. The Farming Systems Development Approach
7. The Cost Sharing Approach
8. The Educational Institution Approach
 Extension Approaches: General Agricultural
extension Approach/ General Extension Approach

 This approach assumes that technology and knowledge that are

appropriate for local people exist but are not being used by
them.
 The approach is usually fairly centralized and government-
controlled. Success is measured in the adoption rate of
recommendations and increases in national production.
 Extension Approaches: General Agricultural
extension Approach/ General Extension Approach
 Commonly controlled by government thru the Department of
Agriculture (DA) in its unit/division mandated to undertake
extension.
 Considered as top-down approach where priorities are determined
at national level which requires a large number of government field
personnel all over the country by political subdivision
 Technologies/ inventions generated by research institutions are for
the farmers to adopt the technology purposely to increase their
production/ income for a better quality of life
 Low level of adoption on technology and information due to lack of
consultation and participation among farmers.
 Methods and techniques are generally standardized consisting of
a combination of extension communication techniques
 Extension Approaches: Commodity Specialized
Approach

 The key characteristic of this approach groups all the functions for
increased production - extension, research, input supply, marketing
and prices - under one administration. Extension is fairly
centralized and is oriented towards one commodity or crop and the
agent has many functions
 Extension Approaches: Commodity Specialized
Approach
 Focus on highly specialized one crop usually for export such as
coffee, sugar, rice, etc. in order to increase productivity and
production
 Top-down approach and organized by the commodity organization
through grouping of related function like research, extension, input
supply, output marketing, and prices under one administration for
effective and efficient crop’s production.
 Governing body of an organization have the responsibility and
authority to give direction and management including the selection
of farmer cooperators to adopt the package of technology
 Requires available facilities for on-the-spot demonstration, highly
qualified scientific of trained field personnel, credit and marketing
scheme for small farmers, close supervision on the total production
of the particular crop
 Extension Approaches: Training and Visit
Approach

 This fairly centralized approach is based on a rigorously

planned schedule of visits to farmers and training of agents
and subject matter specialists. Close links are maintained
between research and extension. Agents are only involved
in technology transfer. Success is related to increases in the
production of particular crops or commodities.
 Extension Approaches: Training and Visit
Approach
 Advocated by the World Bank in the 1960s to improve agricultural
productivity through convincing farmers to adopt a set of
recommended farm practices
 Inadequate management and supervision due to poorly trained
extension personnel, lack of trainings and farm visit activity
 Encourage farmers to increase their production on specified crops
 Enhance communication channel between the key actors of the
program or projects
 Top-down approach whereby decisions made through downward
communication based on the organizational hierarchy
 Requires high manpower, high cost, continuous in-service training by
subject matter specialist, scheduled farm visit, improved a two-way
flow of communication, emphasized to increase yield and total
production of crops
 Extension Approaches: Participatory Agricultural
Extension Approach

 This approach often focuses on the expressed needs of

farmers' groups and its goal is increased production and an
improved quality of rural life. Implementation is often
decentralized and flexible. Success is measured by the
number of farmers actively participating and the
sustainability of local extension organizations.
 Extension Approaches: Participatory Agricultural
Extension Approach

 Farmers’ associations and internal stakeholders take a vital

role in program planning by prioritizing their needs through
active participation
 Farmers have full grasp of the production process and the
potentialities of their resources by reinforcing of the
program implementers through IKS, research and related
activities
 Results to increase production and consumption, enhance
quality of life, improve efficiency and effectiveness of
agricultural extension, create a wholesome flow of
communication
 Extension Approaches: Participatory Agricultural
Extension Approach

 Participation aid extension personnel to assist the

improvement of facilities, plans and program based on
Local Development Plan, entails lower cost, active
participation of a number of key developmental actors,
extension personnel as facilitator, local sharing of
technologies and other resources, shared decision making,
create group learning and the sustainability of
activities/decision making.
 Extension Approaches: Project Approach

 This approach concentrates efforts on a particular location,

for a specific time period, often with outside resources. Part
of its purpose is often to demonstrate techniques and
methods that could be extended and sustained after the
project period. Change in the short term is often a measure
of success.
 Extension Approaches: Project Approach
 Central government controls the program planning in
extending services in a particular location
 Infusion of bigger budget from external resources, foreign
donors’ and private organization have strong control as
compared to regular extension program
 Transportation, facilities, equipment and sometimes
housing, project allowances for field staff cause to short run
changes
 Bureaucracy in the Department of Agricultural Extension
Services may not be capable to bring about increase in
agricultural production or rural development within an
appropriate time frame.
 Extension Approaches: Farming System
Development Approach

 A key characteristic of this type of extension is its systems

or holistic approach at the local level. Close ties with
research are required and technology for local needs is
developed locally through an iterative process involving
local people. Success is measured by the extent to which
local people adopt and continue to use technologies
developed by the program.
 Extension Approaches: Farming System
Development Approach
 People-centered, problem-oriented, holistic participatory and inter-
disciplinary in evolving locally generated technologies based on
farmers felt needs
 Adopt a farmer-back-to- farmer lead research-extension with the
provision of technical extension personnel
 Planning and program implementation were controlled by farmers
and team of Interdisciplinary experts in researchers and extension
workers thru a process but it may differ based on the local agro-
climate farm ecosystem.
 Requires budget, specialized field personnel, active farmers
participation and interdisciplinary team of R&E, a system approach
in situation analysis, design of intervention and experimentation,
extent of adoption of the process and the technologies
 Extension Approaches: Cost –sharing Approach

 This approach assumes that cost-sharing with local people

(who do not have the means to pay the full cost) will
promote a program that is more likely to meet local
situations and where extension agents are more
accountable to local interests. Its purpose is to provide
advice and information to facilitate farmers' self-
improvement. Success is often measured by the willingness
to pay.
 Extension Approaches: Cost –sharing Approach
 The program is a collaboration in the utilization and
complementation of resources between the program
beneficiaries and the program implementers and other
stakeholders (external and internal)
 Through cost sharing it achieved a Non-formal education
program, efficient personnel performance, increase
productivity, teach farmers to become self-reliant, a
responsive to local needs for sustainable cooperation
 Requires less shares from the government, hired locally
field personnel and willingness of farm people to sustain the
cost share of the program
 Extension Approaches: Educational Institution
Approach
 This approach uses educational institutions which have
technical knowledge and some research ability to provide
extension services for rural people. Implementation and
planning are often controlled by those who determine
school curricula. The emphasis is often on the transfer of
technical knowledge.
 Extension Approaches: Educational Institution
Approach
 Extension done by an academic institution (Agriculture
Educational Institutions) have technical knowledge relevant
to the farm people
 Educate farmers on scientific agriculture, provide
opportunity for students and faculty interacts with farmers
and experience actual Agriculture Program implementers
are those who design the program or projects and turned-
over to the rural organization
 Requires higher budget but needs collaboration to share the
financial, logistic and technical aspects among stakeholders
 Extension Approaches: Educational Institution
Approach
 Adopt a Non-formal education, approaches/ techniques
may be varied depending on the philosophy of the
institution
 Extension Service of the Institution involve the staff
personnel as extension worker for the program and from
other line agency
 Requires reasonable attendance and extent of participation
among farm people