eChapters

Introduction

Focus of extension agencies on production technologies yielded very good results andhence India become self reliant on food production. Significantly,the extension systemhadplayedits role untiringlyintransfer ofproductiontechnologies from lab to land, besides the agricultural scientists, farmers and marketing network. But the farmers at individual level are not realizing remunerative prices for their produce. Add to this, the Indian farmers have to face challenges of global force that are affecting or are likely to affect Indian agriculture. This assumes greater significance in the light of the new international trading regime under WTA and the export opportunities being opened up. 

Adoption

Adoption is a decision to make full use of an innovation as the best course of action available.

Steps in adoption process

Ryan and Gross (1943) were probably the first to recognize that the adoption of a new idea consisted of stages. They distinguished between awareness of hybrid seed cron conviction of its usefulness, trial acceptance and complete adoption of the innovation.

Adoption is essentially a decision making process. According to Johnson and Haver (1955), decision making involves the following steps.

Diffusion

Diffusion is the process by which an innovation is communicated through certain channels over time among the members of a social system (Rogers & Shoemaker, 1971).

Innovation

Innovation is an idea, practice or object that is perceived as new by an individual or otherunit of adoption.

Adoption

Adoption is a decision to make full use of an innovation as the best course of action available.

Agricultural Journalism

Journalism refers to the production and distribution of reports on recent events. The word journalism applies to the occupation, using methods of gathering information andutilizing literary techniques. Various forms ofjournalistic mediums include: print, television, radio, Internet and in the past: newsreels. The activity or profession of writing for newspapers, magazines, ornews websites or preparing news to be broadcast. The difference between Farm journalism and general journalism.

Models Definitions

In social science research a model is a tentative description of what a social process, say the communication process or a system might be like. It is atool of explanation and analyses, very often in a diagrammatic form, to show how the various elements of a situation being studied relate to each other.

What is a Model?

Origin

The term communication stems from the Latin word “Communis” meaning “common”. This implies that when we communicate, we are trying to establish ‘commonality’ with someone through a message. Communication, then, is a conscious attempt to establish ce, it is a process of getting a source and a receiver tuned together for a particular message or a series of message.

Definitions of communication

1. Farm Publication

Is a class of publications prepared by the extension agency in printed form, containing information relating to the improvement of farm and home. Farm publications are of various types such as leaflet, folder, bulletin, newsletter, journal and magazine. Farm publications may be used singly or in combination with other extension methods.

Objectives

1. To reach a large number of people quickly and simultaneously at a low cost.
2. To provide accurate, motivating, credible and distortion free information.

1. Result demonstration

It is a method of motivating the people for adoption of a new practice by showing its distinctly superior result. The demonstrations are conducted in the farm or home of selected individuals and are utilized to educate and motivate groups of people in their neighborhood. This is a very effective method for the transfer of technology in a community.

Objectives

1. To show the advantages and applicability of a newly recommended practice in farmer’s own situation.

Extension Teaching

• Extension teaching defined as a sequence of progressive steps, undertaken to create situations that are conducive to effective learning.
• According to Leagans (1961) extension methods are the devices used to create situation in which communication can takeplace between the instructor and learner.
• The purpose of using an extension teaching method is to create opportunities to establish rapport over a subject matter between the communicator and learners.

Training Need Assessment

Training Need Assessment (TNA) is the method of determining if a training need exists and, if it does, what training is required to fill the gap. TNA seeks to identify accurately the levels of the present situation in the target surveys, interview, observation, secondary data and workshop.

An assessment process that serves as a diagnostic tool for determining what training needs to take place. 

Training

Training represents activities that teach employees how to better perform their jobs. Training is a powerful tool in the hands of development professional to catalyze human resources. Training is a process of acquiring specific skills to perform ajob better.

Training as the act of increasing the skills of an employee for doing a particular job

Training always aim at lasting improvement on the job. It is primarily organized not for learning more but to behave differently in own endeavors

Introduction

PTD refers to the creative process of joint experimentation and research by farmers and development agents (such as extension workers) in discovering ways of improving farmers’ livelihoods. Experimentation and innovation are natural and necessary to farmers. Before formal research and extension services existed, farmers’ own experimentation allowed adaptation to new situations, to survive and to improve their livelihoods, where conditions were favorable.This is still the case today, even where farmers have access to external support. Many development projects and extension agencies are appreciating farmers’ informal experimentation as a springboard for developing locally appropriate technologies.

History of Expert System

Expert systems were introduced by researchers in the Stanford Heuristic Programming Project, including the “father of expert systems” Edward Feigenbaum, with the Dendral and Mycin systems. Principal contributors to the technology were Bruce Buchanan, Edward Shortliffe, Randall Davis, Williamvan Melle, Carli Scott, and others at Stanford. Expert systems were among the first truly successful forms of AI software. In the 1980s, expert systems proliferated as they were recognized as a practical tool for solving real- world problems. Universities offered expert system courses and two thirds of the Fortune 1000 companies applied the technology in daily business activities.

Agri portals

• Website that serves as a gateway or a main entry point (‘cyber door’) on the internet to a specific field of interest or an industry.
• A portal provides at least four essential services.
  1. Search engine(s).
  2. Email.
  3. Links to other related sites and.
  4. Personalized content.
  5. It may also provide other facilities such as chat, members list, free downloads, etc.

e-Extension

E-extension can be defined simply as the use of electronic technologies (especially ICT) to enhance face-to-face and paper-based transactions. These technologies can be as simple as teleconferences or as complex as wikis and blogs.

Cyber extension (also known as e-extension) may be defined as extension over the cyber space, the imaginary space created by the interconnected telecommunication and computer networks.

Privatization of Agricultural Extension

Process of funding and delivering the extension services by private individual or organization is called Private Extension. Privatization is the act of reducing the role of Government or increasing the role of private sector in an activity or in the ownership of assets. Privatization is the incidence or process of transferring ownership of business from the public sector (Government) to the private sector (business). Private Extension is solely the act of private individuals or organizations where the decision of privatization solely rests with Government implemented in liaison with private extension service provider.

Definition of Monitoring and Evaluation

Systematic recording of observations, information, gathering, analysis, documentation, reflection, action and re-planning is called monitoring.

It provides programme/projects managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback and early indications of progress or lack of in the achievement of intended results.

Meaning of Administration

The Management of public affairs of a government or institution is called administration. In extension education knowledge of administration is very important which can be developed by administrators. This knowledge will make the administrators aware of some of the unanticipated consequences of their decision. Secondly proper administration makes the administrator to his/her skill. Knowledge for solving problems of organization for which they are members.

Leader

Leader is aperson who influencing people so that they will strive willingly towards the achievement of group goals.

A leader is one who inspires, motivates and leads people to accomplish organizational goals.

Leaders’ styles encompass how they relate to others within and outside the organization, how they view themselves and their position, and to a large extent whether or not they are successful as leaders.

Community Development concepts

The United Nations defines community development as “a process where community members come together to take collective action and generate solutions to common problems. It is a broad term given to the practices of civic leaders, activists, involved citizens and professionals to improve various aspects of communities, typically aiming to build stronger and more resilient local communities.

Community development is a process where community members come together to take collective action and generate solutions to common problems. Community wellbeing (economic, social, environmental and cultural) often evolves from this type of collective action being taken at a grassroots level.