OVERVIEW OF

AGRICULTURAL
EXTENSION

•Maria Emily S. Damag

Central Mindanao University
 EXTENSION
Elements in the definition of
extension science:
✔ non-formal education
✔ intervention
✔ communication
✔ depends on
voluntary
change
✔ targeting
process
✔ deployed by
institution
 DEFINITION OF EXTENSION
 Agricultural
extension
is a system which
assists farm people
through educational
procedures to
improve farming
methodology and
income, better levels
of living and lift the
social and educational
standards of rural life.
Extension education
 MEANING OF EXTENSION IN
OTHER COUNTRIES
COUNTRY WORD
MEANING
The Netherlands voorlichting Lighting the path
ahead to help people
find their way

Indonesia penyuluhan Lighting the pathway

ahead with a torch
COUNTRY WORD MEANING

Great Britain Advisory work an expert

& Germany gives advice

Germany Auflärung Enlightenment

-stresses where
we are going
Erziehung Education
COUNTRY WORD MEANING
Austria Forderung Furthering,
stimulating one to
go in a desirable
direction

France vulgarisation need to simplify

the message for
the common man
Spain capacitacion improving
people’s skills
 PURPOSES OF EXTENSION
Emancipatory extension
intends to free and uplift the poor

Formative extension
emphasizes the formation or enhancement of the
people’s capacity

Informative extension
is undertaken to help people make well-considered
choices among alternatives

Persuasive extension
aims to achieve societal objectives and collective
utilities
 GOALS OF AGRICULTURAL
EXTENSION

 It promotes the utilization of

appropriate production
technologies

 It accelerates the transformation of

Philippine agriculture and fisheries
from a resource-based to a
technology-based industry
 3.It improves productivity, farm
income, social conditions of the
people; induces voluntary change

4.It helps people form sound

opinions, make good decisions, plan
for changes and move them to
actions
 PRINCIPLES OF EXTENSION
 PROCEDURES

- Extension activities
should go to members
of rural families - where
they are

- Extension should treat

all farmers and their
wives as rational adults
 Extension contacts
should be fitted into
times when farmers are
not too busy

 Intensity and activities

should be varied in
different localities
 PRINCIPLES OF EXTENSION

 PRACTICE/TECHNOLOGY
-Practices must be both
technically, financially
profitable and socially
desirable

- Practices should be discussed

or demonstrated with farmers
just before the time to use it
PRINCIPLES OF EXTENSION
 METHODS

- Good extension teaching

uses a wide variety of
teaching methods

- The unit of instruction

should, in most cases, be a
single new method or
changed practice
IMPACT

-Extension impact is
greatest for areas
which are accessible
and have established
facilities (inputs,
credit, market)
 GENERAL BASIC PRINCIPLES
OF EXTENSION

• ➨ Extension starts where the people are and with what they know
and have.

• ➨ The classroom is where the people are: on the farms, homes and
villages

• ➨ Extension programs are based on the needs of people and are

decided upon by the people

• ➨ Extension works with and thru people and not for them
➨ Extension is carried on
either with groups of
people or with individuals;
and with different
target groups in the
community

➨ The spirit of self-help is

essential for democratic
living
➨ People learn to do
by doing

➨ Extension
and coordinates with
cooperates
other development
organizations

➨ Extension is a two-way
exchange of information
 SHIFT IN EXTENSION
PARADIGM
ASPECTS OLD NEW
Main objective Technology transfer Empowerment
of farmers
Desired outcomes Widespread adoption Wider choices
of technology for farmers
Needs analysis Outsiders Farmers
Decision making Centralized Decentralized;
& adapted to context
standardized
Mode of planning & Static design; fixed Evolving design;
delivery of packages; supply wide choice; demand
technology services push pull
The menu Fixed Ala carte
Linkages & alliances Institutions work in Institutions linked
isolation formally & informally
Outsider’s role Extractive; obtain Enabling; facilitate
in diagnosis & analyze data farmers’ own
analysis
Outsiders’ role Prescribe & Search & supply
on technology transfer

Farmers are Passive, adopt & Active, test &

follow experiment; use
instructions, hear methods; apply
messages, act on principles;
precepts, adopt, choose from
adapt or reject basket of
package technologies
 PARADIGM SHIFT IN
AGRICULTURAL R & E
Farming to produce sufficient
food

Farming as business in a
competitive market
(entrepreneurial
agriculture)

Farming as a natural resource

management function
(sustainable agriculture)
 PROACTIVE VS. REACTIVE
EXTENSION
 PROACTIVE- foresight, anticipating the
future consequences

 REACTIVE – reacting to present

problem