Use of Varieties of Extension Methods

Provision should be made for the opportunity to use a variety of extension methods:

•      To reinforce learning

•      To make learning more lasting

•      To make learning more effective

Choice of a Particular Method

The choice of a particular method is mainly determined by:

•      Specific purpose to be achieved

•      People to be reached and

•      Availability of resources in terms of;

§  Money

§  Time, and

§  Equipments

Stages of Adoption Process

          Farmers learn about new practices through several stages. These stages are:

•      Awareness stage

•      Interest stage

•      Evaluation stage

•      Trial stage

•      Adoption stage

•      Reinforcement Stage

Awareness Stage

•      A stage when a person comes to know about a new practice but lacks the complete information about that new practice is called awareness stage.

Interest Stage

•      A stage when a person becomes interested in a new idea and wants to know more about it is called interest stage.

Evaluation Stage

•      A stage when a person mentally applies the new idea to his present situation and evaluates it is called evaluation.

Trial Stage

•      A stage when a person applies the new idea or practice on a small scale in order to determine its utility under his own situation is called trial stage.

Adoption Stage

•      A stage when a person satisfies with the results of the trials and decides to continue the full use of the practice is called adoption stage.

Reinforcement Stage

•      This stage is often referred to as reinforcement which simply means gathering additional information after which simply means adoption to reconfirm that the right decision has been made.

Importance of Adoption Process in selecting Extension Teaching Methods

•      Farmers have different information requirements at each stage of the adoption process.

•      This means that extension staff must understand which stage farmers are at before planning subject matter and extension methods.

•      Questions to help understand this process include:

Question-1

•      Should information be provided to make farmers aware of a new idea?

•      If yes, perhaps radio/TV and posters, or folk drama and folk song might be the most effective methods.

Question-2

•      Should detailed information be provided when farmers have become aware and are interested?

•      If yes, leaflets with detailed technical information should be printed and circulated, or group discussion meetings arranged, or field days held at a demonstration site, or articles published in local newspapers.

Question-3

•      Should information be provided to increase specific skills in the use of a new technique so that farmers can make a full evaluation?

•      If yes, perhaps method demonstrations and formal training days would be the most useful extension method.

Question-4

•      Should information and support be provided to farmers when they are trying a new idea for the first time?

•      If yes, perhaps individual farm visits and group discussions would be the most useful extension method.

•      Perhaps extension staff could also meet with the whole farm family to discuss the new idea.

Question-5

•      Should support be provided to farmers to reinforce the benefits of a new idea which has been adopted?

•      If yes, perhaps group discussion meetings should be arranged, or a radio interview with the farmer, or the farmer could be invited as a resource person to an extension event.

Important Note

•      At a group extension event, different individuals may be at different stages.

•      So, possible activities should be planned with groups which are at a similar stage.

Other Criteria to Use in Selecting Methods

•      Local staff are responsible for choosing which methods are used in local extension plans.

•      How should staff decide which method is most appropriate?

•      One key factor is the stage of the adoption process, but there are other criteria which staff can use.

Other Criteria

•      Cost - while selecting methods which can be implemented within a budget, and are cost effective.

•      Coverage - while choosing group extension methods which will reach more than one or a few farmers.

•      Complexity - while selecting simple methods which do not need a lot of materials, or a lot of time to plan and implement.

•      Skill - while choosing methods which extension staff have the capacity to implement, if not, training may be required.

•      Targeting - while selecting methods which are especially appropriate to different categories of farmers.

•      Participation - while choosing methods which enable farmers to participate in the learning process.

                   The choice depends on:

•      The message

•      The participants

•      The available resources

•      The complementarity

The Message

•      The extension method should be appropriate to the subject or message.

•      For example, a method demonstration might be the most appropriate way to show a group of farmers how to graft a mango.

The Participants

•      The extension method should be suitable for farmers, the participants.

•      For example, a method demonstration in the farmhouse area might be the most appropriate method for female farmers.

The Available Resources

•      The extension method should be cost effective. Using materials which have been rented or re-used is a good way to increase cost-effectiveness.

•      For example, the seasonal extension monitoring system measures cost-effectiveness, by taking the total cost of an event, and dividing it by the number of farmers who participated.

The Complementarity

•      The extension method should complement any other methods which have already been used to deliver a particular message.

•      For example, demonstrations and field days are perfect compliments, as is the use of visual aids in formal training days or group discussions.

•      The complementarity enables extension staff to develop local campaigns to address important issues identified.

Extension Methods for working with Women

•      Women are responsible for many agricultural development tasks, especially in female headed households, and should therefore be specifically targeted for certain extension services. However, there are some constraints:

•      There are only a few female supervisors, and this is unlikely to rise much further in the near future.

•      It is sometimes difficult for male supervisors to work directly with female farmers in conservative areas for social reasons, such as “purdah” or restrictions on talking to men outside the immediate family.

•      There are some other constraints faced by women themselves, such as illiteracy, lack of capital to invest in new ideas, fear of authority and administrative system, or shyness and fear of laughtering from men.

How to overcome these constraints?

•      To overcome these constraints, there are a number of innovative approaches which can be used to communicate with women.

•      For examples, radio, television, group discussions, demonstrations, meetings, village level training days, fun fairs,  field  days etc.

Radio/Television

•      Approximately 75% of households have radio/ television.

•      Agriculture extension field staff can encourage the radio / television listening  / watching groups for women, and can encourage radio / television staff to air programs about innovations in areas of agriculture for which women are responsible.

Group Activities

•      Discussions, meetings, or village level training days can be implemented with groups of women.

•      Working with groups of women gives male field staff greater access to women farmers as they do not have to be alone with an individual woman.

•      Many NGOs are now forming small women’s groups for the purpose of savings and credit, or health programs.

Demonstrations

•      Demonstrations can be established for women to manage in their own farmhouse, with only occasional visits by extension staff.

•      Method and result demonstrations can also be helpful for women to understand the issues matter to them.

Fun Fairs  and  Field  Days

•      Extension staff can provide opportunities to women to attend  extension events outside the farmhouse in groups, or with their husbands.

•      Extension events with families can often be highly effective, as any sequence of agricultural operations is implemented by both men and women.

•      Joint events can also promote the role of women in agricultural decision making.

Other Methods

•      Extension staff can also use extension methods and audio visual aids which do not require literacy.

•      These include folk drama, folk song, puppets and other traditional media, drawings and cartoons on flash cards.