What is Agriculture Extension?
Agricultural extension is the process of applying scientific research and new information to agricultural operations by educating farmers. Educators from several disciplines, including agriculture, agricultural marketing, health, and business studies, now arrange a larger range of communication and learning activities for rural people under the banner of “extension.”
Origins of Agricultural Extension
The origins of the current extension service can be traced back to events in Ireland in the mid-nineteenth century. Between 1845 and 1851, fungal infections destroyed the Irish potato harvest, resulting in a catastrophic famine. The British government sent “practical instructors” to rural areas to teach small farmers how to grow alternative crops. This initiative drew the attention of German government authorities, who set up their own travelling instructor organization. The concept had expanded to Denmark, the Netherlands, Italy, and France by the end of the nineteenth century.
Agricultural Extension as a Profession
Agricultural extension officers serve as an intermediary between farmers and researchers. They act as facilitators and communicators, assisting farmers in making decisions and ensuring that proper knowledge is applied in order to get the best results in terms of sustainable output and overall rural development. They are responsible for communicating agricultural information to farmers about natural resources, animals, and crops, as well as how to effectively utilize farmland, build efficient irrigation schemes, conserve water, prevent animal sickness, and save money on farming equipment and procedures.
What do they actually do?
- New farming methods are frequently propagated by agricultural extension officers. This is always done in consultation with the farmers, who are the ones who make the final choice.
- In collaboration with agricultural experts, they also do research on food, fiber, and animal products. They provide assistance to cattle producers as well as veterinary surgeons in the treatment of various animal ailments.
- Each agricultural extension officer is linked to one of the agricultural development centers throughout the country, which provides agricultural services to farmers.
- Agricultural extension agents urge farmers to adopt new, better agricultural methods by using a range of means to contact them, such as farmer study groups, farmer days, demonstrations, lectures, and books, as well as educating the media. However, personal contact with farmers on their farms is the most effective technique.
- An agricultural extension officer may be required to re-plan a farm in collaboration with the farmer on occasion. The farm’s resources are then thoroughly investigated. Agricultural extension agents may be required to design recovery programs for degraded soil, safeguard farmed land from erosion, and develop a new grazing system on occasion.
Personal Requirements
- have good communication and interpersonal skills
- be persuasive
- be tactful
- have a strong interest in farming and the environment
- like working outside
Should You Do It?
Despite the fact that farmers already have a lot of knowledge about their environment and farming system, extension can provide them with knowledge and information they don’t have, such as the cause of crop damage, general pest control principles, or how manure and compost are broken down to provide plant nutrients. The extension agent must thoroughly prepare himself for the transfer of knowledge and skills to farmers and their families, which is a vital extension activity.
If you are good with people and have outstanding communication abilities, I feel you should give it serious consideration. After all, what could be better than assisting our bread-givers?