Management of Extension and Advisory Services

Objectives:
• Understand the role and importance of extension and advisory services in rural development.
• Learn the key principles and strategies for effective extension management.
• Gain insights into the challenges and solutions in managing extension programs.
• Develop skills to assess, plan, and implement extension services efficiently.

Introduction to Extension and Advisory Services
• Definition and purpose of extension and advisory services
• History and evolution of extension systems
• Key actors in extension: government, NGOs, private sector, and communities
• The role of extension in agricultural and rural development
• Link between extension services and sustainable development goals

Principles and Models of Extension Management
• Core principles of effective extension management
• Models of extension services: Top-down vs. bottom-up approaches
• Participatory extension methods
• Decentralization in extension services
• Developing a community-based extension model
• Monitoring and evaluating extension effectiveness

Challenges in Managing Extension and Advisory Services
• Common challenges: resource constraints, lack of skilled personnel, communication barriers
• Addressing gender and cultural issues in extension services
• Overcoming resistance to new technologies and practices
• Adapting extension services to changing environments (climate change, technological advancements)
• Ensuring sustainability of extension programs

Planning, Implementing, and Assessing Extension Programs
• Steps in planning an extension program: needs assessment, resource mobilization, and stakeholder engagement
• Designing extension activities and training programs
• Implementing extension programs: strategies for success
• Tools and techniques for monitoring and evaluating extension services
• Assessing the impact of extension programs on rural communities
• Continuous improvement in extension services

DATE:
1ST BATCH: 8th – 11th Apr, 2025
2ND BATCH: 22nd – 25th July, 2025
3RD BATCH: 18th – 21th Nov, 2025