Answer:

Agricultural extension can be defined as the “delivery of information inputs to farmers to increase agricultural productivity”. It is the application of scientific research and knowledge to agricultural practices through farmer education.

Agriculture Extension services are of 3 types:

Technology transfer – the traditional model of the transfer of advice, knowledge and information.

Advisory – the use by farmers of experts as a source of advice in relation to specific problems faced by them.

Facilitation – the aim is to help farmers to define their own problems and develop their own solutions.

Thus, different types of extension services help increase the agricultural productivity:

♤ By replacing traditional farming mechanisms by modern and advantageous systems

♤ By enabling pooling of resources to achieve economy of scale

♤ Changing attitude of farmers towards new and productive farming approaches

♤ Efficient utilisation of resources such as water, soil, pesticides, weedicides etc.

Even the UN High-Level Panel of Experts (HLPE) on food security and nutrition argues that the extension systems need full attention and investments from governments and the donor community.

Keeping in mind the benefits of agricultural extension services, the government launched National Mission on Agricultural Extension & Technology. To ensure easy availability of seeds, pesticide and machinery at reasonable prices, there are subject specific three Sub-Missions as well.

This mission also focuses on:

♤ Sustainable farm agriculture especially in rainfed areas, through integrated farming systems approach which incorporates natural resource management, minimizing external cost and maximizing return through value addition in crops, horticulture, livestock, fisheries etc.

♤ Capacity building of farmers, extension functionaries, institutions and other stakeholders is provided through knowledge centres.

♤ Partnering with knowledge generators public - private, formal and informal to collect and disseminate the knowledge through all channels.

♤ Development of difficult areas and disadvantage group of farmers need high priority as low yield in these areas results in low macro yield.

♤ The power of ICT has been fully leveraged for linking the mission from national to field level through farmers portal, Kisan call centres etc.

♤ Employment generation for youths on and off farm services through various

interventions and programs. “Jai Kisan”- mobilization for farmers’ empowerment.

♤ Agrarian distress and conflicts, farmers’ agitations, indebtedness and other concerns also looked through action research project and linkages with other institutions.