Agricultural Extension Services

Objectives:
• Understand the role and importance of agricultural extension services.
• Identify the different types of extension services and their delivery methods.
• Learn how to assess the effectiveness of agricultural extension programs.
• Gain insights into challenges and opportunities in agricultural extension services.

Introduction to Agricultural Extension Services
• Definition and scope of agricultural extension services
• Historical development and evolution of extension systems
• Importance of extension in agricultural development
• Key actors in agricultural extension: government, NGOs, private sector
• Extension as a communication process

Extension Delivery Methods
• Traditional methods: face-to-face communication, field visits, farmer groups
• Modern methods: ICT-based extension, radio and television programs, online platforms
• Participatory approaches: farmer-to-farmer extension, community-based methods
• Integrated extension approaches: combining agricultural knowledge with social, economic, and environmental concerns

Assessing the Effectiveness of Agricultural Extension Services
• Indicators for measuring the success of extension programs
• Monitoring and evaluation methods: surveys, feedback, and impact assessments
• Case studies on successful agricultural extension programs
• Role of extension in increasing productivity and improving livelihoods

Challenges and Opportunities in Agricultural Extension
• Common challenges: limited funding, lack of skilled extension workers, poor infrastructure
• Opportunities: integrating climate-smart agriculture, using technology for outreach
• Strategies for improving the efficiency of extension services
• Future trends in agricultural extension: digitalization and sustainable practices

DATE:
1ST BATCH: 14th – 17th Apr, 2025
2ND BATCH: 29th July – 1st Aug 2025
3RD BATCH: 25th- 28th Nov, 2025