Teaching and Learning Methods in Agricultural Extension for Development

Abstract

Extension is a social intervention that involves the conscious use of information dissemination methods to help a people, community
/nation form sound opinions and make good decisions. Agricultural extension service is the appointment of itinerant lecturers/teachers to travel around to inform and show small farmers how to improve their production and how to get the best from their production. During the 20th century the focus was on national food security and the impact of extension was on transfer of technology. Then the concept changed as a result of the declining trend of the world food prices to developing the farmers’ skill. To address farmers’ problems and needs, a lot of approaches have been developed of which all teaching should (usually) be carried out according to the needs and resources of the local community or group. Agric extension services are established for the purpose of changing the knowledge, skills, practices and attitude of masses of rural people, schools, health services in order to empower them, and bring about a positive improvement in their live style and economic activity which will yield a developmental change for their
immediate family, community, state and the nation.