6

Trasncript

Hello friends, I welcome you all to this contents of second week discussions on the course on Fundamentals of Agricultural Extension. In the first week we discussed about the basic concepts associated with the extension, like the concept of extension. What is extension? What is not extension? The objectives, principles, philosophy and functions of extension. In the second week we will be discussing about the dimensions of extension, the processes of extension and issues associated with the program planning in extension education. In today’s class we will be discussing about the concept of In-Tension of Ex Tension. We have discussed enough about the concept of extension. We tried to understand all possible nuances of the concept of extension. But what about the in-tensions of extension. So why I am emphasizing on these inner tensions of extension is. To be a successful extension professional for bringing about the desirable changes in our client system, we need to understand the inner-tensions of extension also in addition to the concept of extension.

To understand this particular thing, I will take you to the models that we are adopted for the transfer of technology system in general which starts with the technology. And this model we can term it as the technology mediated, rather I can say that technology dominated Technology Transfer System, wherein the core emphasis was on the transfer of technology, technology, technology, technology. And it was transferred to the intended communities. And the end product of this entire process was the partial adoption of the technology or non-adoption of the technology. So what are the implications of this partial or non-adoption. So it is not going to achieve the objectives of extension, what we tried to discuss in our previous discussions. So with certain modifications in this particular model. So we try to inculcate the human elements into this. So and we call it as the extension mediated technology transfer system, wherein the technology is inseparable component of extension, which we combined it with the human element. That is the societal elements and then we went for transfer of technology process. And again the end product did not change much. That is partial adoption or the non-adoption of the technology.

Again, the objectives of extension could not be met in its real sense. So in under this such perspective, let us look into the relationship with the technology provider as well as the technology receiver. Wherein let us try to understand this particular issue with the help of the National arrangements and systems approaches for extension and their relationship with the farmers. The first model that we can discuss about the Public or the Ministry of Agriculture which delivers the extension services in the form of a systems approach. The relationship with the farmers or the end users is take it or leave it. The public extension system which is largely establishing such type of relationship with its end users. Whether the receivers are gaining it or not, whether they are understanding it or not but ultimately we are transferring it and ultimately we are ending it with the target oriented approach. The second issue that we can discuss about is with some modifications into the earlier approach, wherein we are adopting the participatory approach. But again the relationship with the farmers is take it or demand different packages of programs, wherein we can see the approaches of extension that were adopted in the post 1990’s have invariably this particular component. People started demanding the things, wherein the Ministry of Agriculture and farmers associations came together. Wherein we tried to adopt this participatory approaches.

And the third model that we can discuss about is the private extension efforts, the examples like the contract farming, wherein everything is compulsory. And this particular model is working on the basically for the profit and the farmer associations and the non-governmental organizations and the multinational enterprises are coming into the picture. And the approach and the relationship with the end users is take it or else. It means it is becoming more of a compulsion on the receivers. And the many of the reports till date reveal that, so the end users are being exploited to the maximum extent because of the lack of the legal support systems. In all these three models when we look at the end user is the most deprived entity. Whether in case of the first one that is whether take it or leave it is a neglected man. In case of the participatory approaches he may or may not get the information or the services as per his demand. And in the third whatever is it, it is a compulsion on him. So in all these 3 approaches, these 3 systems and 3 types of relationships, the ultimate loser is our client system and how we can overcome these type of situations is by understanding the basic processes of extension, the fundamentals of extension, what we discussed in our previous week, which include in the definition of the in-tension of extension. The concept of in tension of extension has been conceptualized as the degree to which the philosophy, the content, ideas, notions, objectives, techniques, principles, theory and models of extension have been internalized by extensionist. I am not giving you any theme that is new. But putting the things in its right perspective. Let us try to understand these things. As a extension professionals when I am delivering the extension services, the first and foremost question that I need to ask myself is whether I am aware of the principles of extension. Whether I am aware of objectives of extension. Whether I am aware of the dimensions of extension. Whether I know all the processes of extension, methods of extension. These are the basic questions that I need to put to myself before providing any of the extension services or acting as a extension professional.

The moment I ask all these questions. The answer that emerges out of these discussions is leading towards the holistic approach of extension. That is what is the role of an extension educationist, to give due emphasis on the inner-tensions of extension. In one of our earlier discussions we have already discussed about the concept of extension educationist and the concept of extension service provider. Just I am refreshing your memory. The extension educationist is going to provide you the basic inputs that are necessary for the process of transfer of technology. When we go through the evaluation reports of many of the developmental programs. One thing that is mentioned in all the reports which is common is, the extension professional is loaded with the technology, but he is lacking in the issues associated with the extension. Means the extension technology is missing but the technology per se which is associated with the crop production or the animal production or the issues associated with, are dominating. So lack of this extension technology needs to be taken care of which the extension educationist is going to play that particular role.

Then the role of extension service provider is, in addition to the technology that you are specializing yourself with, in addition to that because technology per sec cannot work. And technology alone cannot do any wonders until and unless it is understood by the end user. The end user plays the dominant role there. So that is how we need to make them understand and that is where the role of an extension educationist in addition to the extension service provider is there. So that is why both these components of the extension service aspects should understand the roles and play their role. So when both these units are playing their role, the concept of capacity building comes into the picture. So which is being explained in a very simple manner. If we are giving a fish to a hungry person, it means we are satisfying his hunger for a day. But if he is being taught how to catch the fish, it means we are feeding him for the life. So the process of extension does not stop there. The inner-tensions of extension does not stop there. It goes beyond that. What is that? It says that, and teach them how to process and package the fish for export. And you stimulated the economic development. And that is what is the ultimate goal. And that is where we are emphasizing on changing the living standards. Changing, bringing in the desirable changes. So these are the desirable changes that we are emphasizing upon with the inner-tensions of extension.

With this brief discussion, let us conclude, let us appreciate the differences between the extension educationist and extension service provider. Let us not put them into the same basket. Both are different entities and have a definite role to play. Apply the techniques of extension while providing the extension services in addition to the technology which is essential for our target community, and make the process of extension more holistic. So with this we are coming to the end of this class. In the next class we will be discussing about various dimensions of extension.

Thank You.