tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28244882.post3704892604515977013..comments2024-03-05T17:54:53.307+10:00Comments on Malum Nalu: Agriculture extension system needs revitalisingMalum Naluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17513608976714683688noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28244882.post-73875821156315879182011-09-27T00:52:26.919+10:002011-09-27T00:52:26.919+10:00What is the role of the Extension Service? Inform ...What is the role of the Extension Service? Inform and Educate the farming communities to be well versed with the latest technologies available to improve productivity. <br /><br />Extension is either supply driven or demand driven. In supply driven extension the farmer is told to just run wild producing without any consideration for the market. In a market driven extension commodity promoted and quantity and quality is relevant to the market requirement.<br /><br />Which side would you like to be on? Obviously market driven because you have to produce to sell and not produce large quantities you cannot sell, thus wated effort and resources. <br />In this case before market driven extension and production takes place proper infrastructures needs to be put in place. In the absence of this infrastructure extension is also of no effect. How can you do extension and produce something you cannot take to the market because the roads and briges connecting you to the market outlets are not in place or have broken down. This is what has happened to our Agriculture sector over the last 36 years. <br /><br />So, how do we make it work? We need leaders in the right places. Not people with brains but people with hearts. People centered leadership is lacking in most high places. <br /><br />The Agriculture sub sector is falling not because we lack R & D capacity and capabilities, rather leadership and managerial skills are lacking in our sub sector and even the higher level.<br /><br /><br />Just my opinionAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com