(CHAPTER 4. APPROACHES IN EXTENSION ‘The primary approach of an extension ofcelagency isthe approach and meth to be used n dssemnatng a pariclr technology. [APPROACHES IN EXTENSION {GAnextension approach is an organized and coherent combination of strategies ‘and methods, designed to make rural extension effective in acetain area, [APPROACH G1 Anapproach embraces the entre spectrum ofthe process. It sales a point of ‘eu a phiosophy, anal offath (Garcia, 1989). ‘Within an approach there canbe several methods. ‘An approach is an enighiened viewpoint toward teaching! technology promoton, Itprovdes sound philosophy and oneniaton tothe whole process of teaching! {echno promotion nee the selecton ofa method isjusta prt oft o co METHOD CIs procedural consisting of a series of actions aranged logicaly for the ‘smooth operation ofa particular teaching task (len and Camptell, 1975) of ‘technotagy promotion tis an overal forthe orderly presentation of a lesson: iis an organized, ‘ordey, systematic and wel-plamed procedure aimed at enhancing and ‘aaltating earning (Gare, 196) or enology adoption, _Histhe procedure or sip by stop way of guing prospective cent! adoptors Jn knowing, tying and adopting spect: technology STRATEGIES G1 Ate approaches and method chosen or develop to reach @ patular set of ‘goal used fo define the operational design by means of whieh the natona ‘goverment, rater sponsoring orgnizatons, implements its policies Things you thik about! concept TECHNIQUE is implementation, taxing an immediate appleabity to the EWiteacher ‘unig tos specify, feeslty and convenience to the one using it (Alen ‘and Campbel, 1975). It isa parteular rick, strategy indivdual artsy ofthe ‘acherEW, G_Atechnique has a couple of meaning: frst as procedural vation of agen method as a highly personalized stye of caring out a partcuar step of @ ‘given method, second, shown ina sep called mobvaton things you dofimplementation DEFINITION OF SEVERAL EXTENSION APPROACHES Extension comes in many. sizes and shapes. Athough the folowing cassieation, made primanly for agrcutuze, is not complete and the distinctions between the types are not absolute, it gives an idea of the possiblities and opportunites that exist for the extension planner and forthe ply. and decslon-mater at the national evel (2 The identified approaches take off from the description of extension ‘approaches by Axinn (1988. (GENERAL EXTENSION APPROACH ‘This approach assumes tat technoiogy and Knowledge that are appropriate {orlocal people exst butare not being used by them, ‘The approach 8 usualy CENTRALIZED AND. GOVERNMENT. CONTROLLED. ‘Success is measured in the adoption rale of recommendation and increases ‘in atonal production. (Ths approach is considered as a TOP TO BOTTOM GOVERNMENT, ADVANTAGES: Itcan interpret rational government poles and procedures o rural people Usually covers the whole natn, Relatvely easy to conbol by oental ‘goverment G_ When itworks wel it roves for apd communication from department level {o ual peop. DISADVANTAGES: ican interpret national government polices and procedures to rural people Usually covers the whole naton, Relatvely easy to contol by central governent. When i works wey it roves for apd communication from department level to ual people, ‘© Concept: This is a tadtonal, top-down approach where information and recommendations fow ftom goverment agencies or research insttutons to oO © oF ‘farmers Extension agents act a tansmites of inowledge, focusing on broad agicutural practices. ‘¢ Example: Extension workers might disrbute pamphlets o conduct lectures on general opis ike sol management or pest contol. 2. FARMING SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT APPROACH! FARMING SYSTEMS [APPROACH (FSA) 1 Akey charactrste ofthis ype of extension its systems or holistic approach the local level, Ciose tes wih research are requ and technology for local 1d s developed locally through an iterative proces invevng local people {Success is measured bythe extent to which local people adopt and contin fo Use technologies developed by the programme, Assumes that technology which fs the needs of farmers, parculary small farmers, isnot avalabe and neds o be generated locally. ADVANTAGES: The farmers can easly see the results the recent technological esis inthe fil __ Support fom the research agencies orinstuons is assured DISADVANTAGES: Only one farmer cooperaors benefited. The farmer cooperator cannot contnue the operation afer the end ofthe Project inthe eld ‘© Concept: This is a botom-up approach that considers the entre faring system (crops, livestock, resources) and works with farmers to improve their veal veined ‘© Example: Extension workers would work wih farmers to identty ther challenges, then develop solitons that consider interacions between cops, livestock and avalable resources to create a more sustainable and roducive system. PARTICIPATORY EXTENSION APPROACH (PEA) This approach oflen FOCUSES ON THE EXPRESSED NEEDS OF FARMERS’ GROUPS and ts goal is ineased production and an improved quality of rural ite {Implementation is oten DECENTRALIZED and fete Success is measured by the numbers of farmers actvelyparteipating andthe sustanabity of loca extension organizations Provision of extension service that involve all actors that willbe pat of the texionsion sytem. ADVANTAGES: {2 Nutual supportve relationship which develops many participants. Increase confidence, awareness, and achiy among farm people. Empowerment tis @botom up decison making approach DISADVANTAGES: 1 Difcut to manage, central reporting and accounting, ‘© Concept: Simlar to FSDA, PEA actively involves farmers in identiying problems, discussing soluions, and implementing changes. This fosters ‘ounershp and empowers communis. ‘© Example: Farmers might be involved in conducting tals ith diferent crops or techniques, then sharing their experiences and leamings wit others in the commun, oe COMMODITY SPECIALIZED APPROACH The key characteristic ofthis approach groups al the funcions for increased producton extension, research, input supply marketng and pices - under one ‘administration Extension is faty centaized and fs oented towards one commodity or crop and the agent has many funcons. Example: Rice Extension, Com Extension (FSTP, SCOPSA), Abacayamanan Ils an organized and coherent combinaton of extension stateges and rmethats which facitate the production of one specie cropvestock (conmosty), ADVANTAGES: 1 Ittends to“ the production problems and therefore the messages tend to be appropiate, 2 Focus on narow range of tecnica! concems, closer management and superision _Ittends tobe easier to monitor, evaluate and relatively more cost elective. DISADVANTAGES: Interest of farmers may have les prio. toes not provide advisory service to ater aspects of farming inthe case of farmers wo produce one more commodity Famers may be forced wih several extension workers from diferent agencies, wth competing advice or demands. ‘© Concept: This approach focuses on inceasing production and improving practices fora spectic commodity (com, soybeans, etc). Ofen uses atop- down approach wih specials in that commodty ‘* Example: Extension workers wih expertise in rice producton might tain farmers on new rice varies, planing techniques. and past management specticto ice of COST.SHARING APPROACH This approach assumes tat cost-sharing with local people (ho do not have the means o pay the ful ost) wil promote programme tha is mre ikely to meet local sivatons and where exension agents are more accountable to local intrest. oe( Facitate farmers’ seftimprovement. Success is often measured by the willingness to pay Such parinerships may be pursued in order to increased marketplace ‘exposure, access to technology, rete expenses through economies of size 'n purchasing of reducing costs, ete —but cost savings is usualy a central component of these arrangements [ADVANTAGES: Some measures of local contol of program planning, increases the relevance ofthe program content and methods to the needs and interests of clientele | Local infuenoe on personnel selecion, contbutes to their ably to ‘communica effectively, and to win he canfdenoe of rural peopl Lower cot of central goverment. DISADVANTAGES: More ficult to canal government te control either program or personnel O_Reporting fhancial management, and otber aspects of administrative concems fend to be more complex and difcut. ‘© Concept: This approach involves sharing the costs of implementing new lechnotogis or practoes between extension services and farmers. Ths can ‘encourage farmer buys and ensure they have stake in the success ofthe project. ‘© Example: Extension senices might provide substies or cost-sharing ‘rogram for armersto purchase improved seeds or egaton equipment PROJECT APPROACH Tt assumes that the lage govemment bureaucracy i not likely to have a ‘ignicant impact ugen eter agrcutural production or rural peopl, and that beter resis can be achieved in a partcular locaton, during a specied time petiod wth large infusions of aude resources. |G Ths approach concentrates efforts on a partcuar locaton, fora spectic ime ‘etod, offen wih ouside resources. Part ofits purpose i fen te demanstate ‘echriques and methods that could te extended and sustained afer the project petiod. Change inthe shor terms ten a measure of sucess. ADVANTAGES: Mean give queckresuts D_Novel techniques and methods canbe tested and experimented DISADVANTAGES: Tine to shot [Antcipats afew ofthe "good ideas" inthe project area to other places, ‘hen the supply of maney ends, so does the projec. ‘A tendency fo consume a large proportion of resources on baseline sues {and the esiabishment of emporary logistic base ‘Staff both focal anc expatiat ends to become the immediate benefcianes, Pressure to show inmerlae result eacng to fettiousreperting, ‘Concept: This approach focuses on achieving spectic goals wthin a detned timeframe and budget. I's oflen used to adress a parielar isue or invoduce ‘ane technology in a specie region. Example: A project might be developed to improve vegetable producton in a ‘doughtprene area, focusing on ineducng droughtesistantvateties and water-saving iigatontecniques. oe *oo cooo ‘THE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION APPROACH {Ths approach uses educational isttutons which have technical knowledge ‘and some research ably to provide extension senvces for rural people. Implementaton and planning are ofien convaled by those who detemine ‘school cuiula. The emphasis is ofen on the transfer of technical knowedge. ‘Source: Axinn in FAO, 1988 ADVANTAGES: |G I-can help the schools in providing real world relevant examples to their academic teaching materials buls rectal nt classroom), The relationship of scents to field extension personnel good training for bath, (Instead of an agrutural extension system having to maintain personnel as patt of ther own professional sil they are borowed fom educabonal ‘nsttuion more efficent use of human DISADVANTAGES: |G) The tendency for instucors as trainers of feld extension staf fo speak too ‘academicaly. Ther ledures and demonstration may nat be as practical and ‘set rom afame’s perspective, A Competition between the agricul extension workers and extension staf of the univer ‘© Concept: Leverages universities and colleges to conduct research, develop ‘extension materials, and tran extension workers, This approach buids onthe knowledge base of academic insituions ‘© Example: A uriversty agrcutural department might develop training modules {or extension workers on integrated pest management practices. ‘TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY APPROACH (TOTA) Ths fay cantalized approach i based on a rigorously planned schedule of visits to farmers and taining of agents and suject matter specialists. tt ‘assures linear conmunicaton process fiom research centers, where {echnology is developed, io subject mater specialists who transla i iio techrical recommendations. to. contact farmers. Example; Package of ‘Technology -POT (12 Steps in Com Producton) Technology transfer (TT), or vansfer of technology (TOT). is an integral part of the extension process invohing the ansfr and spread of tecinial novation ‘and know-how ote faring population. ADVANTAGES: Pats pressure to government o organize a large number of small agricultural erension unis iio one inegrted sence and the pressure @ puis on gical extension offcers to get out of their ofces and meet wih fame. Because of regular training AEWs ae assumed to be mere up to date wit information ard teehnobogy Felt sta receives greater technical supervision 1 Logisteal support to extension staf are more avaliable, DISADVANTAGES: CD toperates effet in the absence ofan efecve research program. The systems designed to taster tchreogy nat create i camet increase production unless the contemporary pars of the small farmer development package tke input suply and ced, market mechanisms and piceincenes aren place Lack of acta vo ~ way communicaton Lack of lage supply of spl, low ~ cost technology which i relevant to farmers. Lack of fexbily to change programs as needs and intrest of faring peopl Change rom place to place and tom ine tie. Concept: This sa too-down approach wih astong emphass on tansferng neu technologies developed tough research to famars for adoption. Example: Exension workers might demanstate and promatetheuse ofa new highfelsing cop varety developed by a esearch inst, ‘oo oo 9. TRAINING AND VISIT (T&V) IN AGRICULTURE EXTENSION This faity centralized approech is based ona rigorously planned schedule of vis to farmers an traning of agents and subject mater specials. Close links are mainaned between research and extension. Agenis are only involved in technology transfer. Success is related to creases in the Producton of parca crops or commodities. Below'is an example of T &V TV is; unque approach bringing professional subject mater specialist and farmers together fo eam and faciltale faring operons to help famers produce more. The Training and Vist system in Agricutural Extension Education is designed for building a ined professional extension service that is capable of guding the farmers in agncubural producton and raising theit income by providing appropiate plans for country development The assumptions wi this approach are: 1. EFS (Extension Field sia are pooty trained and not uptodate 2 Less frequent visits and 3. tension contact management and supervision are nadequte and 4. Twosway flow of information between esearch and extension s weak. TV approach was o ensure that 1. The extension agents should car outextension functons exclusively 2 Extension should be ose inked wth the research 3. Training should be a regu and cantruous process at a levels 4. Werk should be tme-bound 5 Field and farmer rentaon shouldbe maintained 6. Top-down approach o planing Decisions are taken athe top 8V approach was o ensure that 8. Producton recommendaton send down to farmers for adoption 8. Rural people ere usualy not invove 10, Farmers problems and challenges are suppose to be conveyed to SMES by EFS 11. Contact farmer approach 12. Field damonsaton| 13. Farm vis and 14 tous Group and individual meetings ‘© Concept: This is a stucured top-doun approach wih regular taining sessions for extension agants and scheduled vists to famers’ elds, Focuses ‘an technology transfer for specie crops er commodities. ‘© Example: Extension workers receive traning on a new fetzer application metho. They then vist amet’ elds at specific intervals to provide guidance and ensure proper implementa.