EXTENSION

METHODS

Rona N. Mostar
MSA Ag. Ed. 212 Agricultural Communication and Extension
“What a man hears, he may doubt.
What he sees he may possible doubt.
But what he does himself he cannot doubt.”-Seaman Knapp
• Whatis an
Agricultural
Extension
Method?
 Agricultural extension is the application of scientific
research and new knowledge to agricultural practices
through farmer education.

The field of 'extension' now encompasses a wider range of

communication and learning activities organized for rural
 people by educators from different disciplines, including
agriculture, agricultural marketing, health and business
studies.
 Extension methods comprise the communication techniques
between extension workers and target groups.

To facilitate farmers' decisions whether or not and

how to adopt farming.
 The individual/household
approach
EXTENSION The group approach:
METHODS meetings, field days,
Source : Agroforestry Extension
demonstrations, support to
Manual in Kenya groups
The school approach
Mass extension methods.
 The tenure
system in the
The choice of method area
depends on various Community
factors such as; organization
Resources
available for
extension
 This approach is most
effective for activities
to be undertaken by or
within the full control
of the individual farmer
or household.

The individual or household

approach
 The group approach
 The group approach involves working with groups or
the community at large.
 Suitable when discussing matters related to the whole
community (e.g. post-harvest grazing, protection and
management of indigenous forests), and when there are
activities to be undertaken by a group, e.g. group
nurseries.
 Suitable when there is a need to address individual
matters but more cheaply than can be done with the
individual approach. The direct target group may be a
women's group, a church organization, a co-operative
society or the community in general.
  The extension work
can be in the form of
lectures, support for
4K Clubs, or
discussions held
during parents' days.
 Demonstration plots
 Large numbers of
people within a short
time at minimal costs.

The school approach

 Mass extension methods
involve the use of the mass
media, e.g. radio, posters,
drama, television,
newspapers, films, slide
shows, to inform the
public. Mass media are
mainly used to create
awareness.
Mass extension methods
PREFA
CE

ACKN
OWLE
DGEME
NTS
 1.Commodity-based

EXTENSION METHODS 2. Cost-Sharing

3. Educational Institution
10 Most Common 4. Farmer Field Schools
5. Farmer Participatory
Extension 6. Farming Systems
Approaches 7. Centralized
by Mark Bell, Amada Crump, Elana Peach-Fine and Maria
8. Land Grant (US)
Paz ,College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences 9. Project
10. Training and Visit
How do these relate to the “ASK ME” extension
framework? “ASK ME” (Bell et al., 2015) provides a
framework for the different extension methods to be
implemented:
1. Audience - understand and engage the audience,
2. Solutions - find appropriate solutions,
3. Key message – identify the key message
4. Message form and delivery - package and deliver
the needed information in forms appropriate to
the audience and,
5. Evaluation - improve the overall process
 The Commodity-Based Approach

focuses on a single crop or on only one aspect of farming.

the approach generally addresses everything from extension
and research to input supply, marketing and prices to increase
production in the selected crop.
Possible issues. Planning is often controlled by a commodity
organization whose interests might not match others and the
approach typically does not provide support on other aspects of
farming.
 The Cost-Sharing Approach
assumes that cost-sharing with local people (who do not
have the means to pay the full cost) will more likely result
in a program that can 1) better meet local situations and 2)
be more accountable to local interests. Possible issues:
Success is dependent on farmer willingness to pay.
Possible issues: Success is dependent on farmer willingness to
pay. Financial management and other aspects of administration
tend to be complex and difficult.
The Educational Institution Approach
relieson educational institutions with the technical knowledge
and research ability to meet extension service demands.
Possible issues. The effectiveness of implementation is often
dependent on those who determine overall school curricula and
thus determine the extent of the focus on extension. Funding
directions and issues of staff promotion and institutional
mandates can often push people to do work that does not focus
on farmers’ needs.
The Farmer Field Schools Approach
Is a form of participatory research that uses a season long
group-based learning process. The method initially
focused primarily on Integrated Pest Management (IPM).
Possible issues. High costs and high time
requirements can affect sustainability of the system.
The Farmer Participatory Approach
involves active participation of farmers in planning and
execution of the various research-extension activities.
Program planning is typically controlled and implemented
locally by farmers’ associations and community organizations.
Implementation is often decentralized and flexible.
Possible issues: High time, participatory skills and cost
required.
The Farming Systems Development
Approach

focuses on bringing appropriate technology to small-scale farmers with

farmers engaged in the technology development and delivery process.
a key characteristic of the approach is the farm being viewed as a system
using a holistic approach at the local level.
theapproach requires close ties between research, extension and farmers
with technology developed locally through an iterative process.
Possible issues. Expensive and time consuming (given the broad range
of issues to consider).
The Centralized Extension Approach

works on the assumption that the technology and

knowledge needed by farmers exist but are simply not
being used.
Possible issues. The approach and thus information
flow tends to be top-down, fairly centralized and
controlled.
The Land Grant Extension Approach

implemented in the United States involves strong links

between specialists on university campuses with county
advisors and farmers.
The system has grown to bring in industry and other
community groups. The system is highly effective.
Possible issues: Requires highly trained personnel
(costly) associated with a clear
The Project Approach

concentrates efforts on a particular location, for a specific

time period,and is usually supported by outside resources.
Part of its purpose is to demonstrate techniques and
methods to farmers with the expectation that adoption will
continue farmer to farmer after the project ends.
Possible issues. Project targets can add pressure to make
non-relevant changes in the short term and there can be
issues of sustainability once a project withdraws.
The Training and Visit Approach

is fairly centralized and involves a series of tightly planned

visits to farmers.
the system results in greater farmer contact and entails
better trained extension agents.
Possible issues. The system is quite costly and somewhat
inflexible in its timing of scheduled visits. As a result at
times it can be more procedural than message oriented.
References. 1. Axinn, G.H. (2008). Guide on alternative extension approaches. Handbook. FAO; 2. Bell, M et
al (2015).ASK ME. http://www.meas-extension.org/tip-sheets/ask-me Nagel, U.J.. 1998. Alternative
approaches to organizing extension. Chapter 2 in Improving agricultural extension. FAO; 3. Ponniah, et al.
(2008). Concepts and practices in agricultural extension in developing countries: A source book. Ethiopia:
ILRI, IPMS Ethiopia.

https://epakag.ucdavis.edu/vocational_training/factsheets/fs-ext-methods-comparison.pdf