Temporal Adaptation of Agricultural Extension Systems in India

In developing countries, the major role of agricultural extensions is to disseminate farm technologies developed by the public funded research organizations, through demonstrations, field visits and farmers' meetings or through media and others. Earlier, the extension personnel were involved in technology diffusion, but in the last two decades, the nature of agricultural technology design and integration is drawing attention of the extension professionals and practitioners across the globe. In India, different models for transfer of farm technology have been tested and also robust extension education approaches have been validated. Furthermore, the frontline extension system of the country has been sharpened through more farmer-centric approaches for technology adaptation and dissemination. Globally too, the adjustment in public extension system is seen. Using China and USA as case studies, we highlight the changes the public extension system has undergone. The operational paradigm of the country's extension system has been suggested to move beyond technology and beyond commodity through ensured reciprocal farmer-research-extension linkages.