New Approach to Agricultural Extension

"NEW APPROACH TO AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION[1]


ABSTRACT

People in this world continue to depend on some form of agricultural production for a livelihood, at the same time, extension play an important role in agricultural development. In most developing countries agricultural extension is utilised a fundamental instrument of agricultural development, however, in some cases, the extension practises indicated some missleading from the original paradigms and philosopphy of extension. Extension is aimed at situation improvement for the whole stakeholders through paticipatory approaches, whereas the dominant model of practice among extension services in developing countries is the technology innovation transfer model with its key concepts, that includes adoption, diffusion, research-extension linkages, results demonstration, agricultural knowledge systems, progressive farmers, and so on. Thus, the image of extension is top down process, linier, and little participation from the clients. The critical comment on the linier extension approach has begun for more than twenty years to suggest a relevant alternative so called extension approaches that focuses on empowering local people to be autonomous, self-resilience, creative, innovative, and have authority to choose best alternative solution based on their needs and situation.

[1] Full paper was presented on The International Congress and Symposium on Southeast Asian Agricultural Sciences, 6-8 November 2000, in Bogor Agricultural University, Indonesia.

Bagi Mahasiswa PPN atau pun peminat atas paper tersebut, silakan mengisi "comments" di bawah, untuk memperoleh naskah lengkapnya.

Salam,

Siti Amanah