Prior to my arrival at the GRDB if I considered the term extension with reference to education I thought it something more like part-time post-secondary training. However, I have learned that "extension education" is a specific agricultural term that refers to the transfer of knowledge from research staff to farmers. Krishiworld: the Pulse of Indian Agriculture, has a clear and concise fact sheet Agricultural Extension Education, that gives us the history of the term, the difference with formal education and its objectives and principles - follow the link!
One of the most important departments at the GRDB is the extension department. Since 2003 the Extension Manager, Kuldip Ragnauth, and his team of Extension Officers have been directly responsible for the transfer of new technologies and practices to farmers. They do this through a variety of Extension Education Activities (EEA): Farmer Field Schools, Six Point Practice sessions and Exchange Visits. Employing videos, pamphlets, specialists and training in the field data collection methods, the Extension Officers act as facilitators, in much the same manner as professors in graduate seminars, to lead, stimulate and promote discussion among the farmers. This is considered to be a "bottom-up" approach, where the facilitator recognizes the knowledge and contribution the farmer has to make in the research process as opposed to previous "top-down" styles that favored the researcher's knowledge ignoring the daily, specialized field knowledge of the farmer.
In considering how to best use my social science research skills GRDB General Manager Jagnarine Singh requested I conduct an Extension Survey to determine the efficacy (or not!) of the current extension practices. With the help of the Extension Officers we will survey 400 of Guyana's roughly 6000 rice farmers (giving us accuracy rates in the 90% range!). In addition to this data, in-depth interviews, statistical & historical analyses will help us determine what kind of impact the last eight years of extension work has had on the farmers, why some farmers are reluctant to participate in EEAs and what can be done to improve the extension practices.
One of the most important departments at the GRDB is the extension department. Since 2003 the Extension Manager, Kuldip Ragnauth, and his team of Extension Officers have been directly responsible for the transfer of new technologies and practices to farmers. They do this through a variety of Extension Education Activities (EEA): Farmer Field Schools, Six Point Practice sessions and Exchange Visits. Employing videos, pamphlets, specialists and training in the field data collection methods, the Extension Officers act as facilitators, in much the same manner as professors in graduate seminars, to lead, stimulate and promote discussion among the farmers. This is considered to be a "bottom-up" approach, where the facilitator recognizes the knowledge and contribution the farmer has to make in the research process as opposed to previous "top-down" styles that favored the researcher's knowledge ignoring the daily, specialized field knowledge of the farmer.
In considering how to best use my social science research skills GRDB General Manager Jagnarine Singh requested I conduct an Extension Survey to determine the efficacy (or not!) of the current extension practices. With the help of the Extension Officers we will survey 400 of Guyana's roughly 6000 rice farmers (giving us accuracy rates in the 90% range!). In addition to this data, in-depth interviews, statistical & historical analyses will help us determine what kind of impact the last eight years of extension work has had on the farmers, why some farmers are reluctant to participate in EEAs and what can be done to improve the extension practices.
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