(a) What is Agricultural Extension? (b) Enumerate seven roles of an Agricultural Extension Worker.
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Agricultural extension is a system of providing agricultural education and advisory services to farmers and other stakeholders in the agricultural sector. It is aimed at transferring knowledge, skills and new technologies to farmers to improve their production, income and standard of living.
The roles of an agricultural extension worker are:
Technology transfer: Agricultural extension workers help farmers to adopt new agricultural technologies that will improve their production and income.
Training: Extension workers provide training to farmers on how to use new technologies, crop and livestock management practices, marketing strategies, and other relevant skills.
Farm management: They provide advice on farm management practices such as crop rotation, soil conservation, and pest management.
Marketing: Extension workers help farmers to identify and access markets for their products, and to negotiate better prices.
Community development: They work with communities to identify their needs and develop programs that address their specific challenges.
Policy advocacy: Extension workers advocate for policies that support the development of agriculture, and provide input to policy-makers on issues affecting farmers and rural communities.
Research: They work with research institutions to identify new technologies and practices that can improve agricultural production, and to test and adapt these innovations to local conditions.
In summary, agricultural extension is a vital component of the agricultural sector, and agricultural extension workers play a crucial role in promoting sustainable agriculture and rural development.
Agricultural extension is a system of providing agricultural education and advisory services to farmers and other stakeholders in the agricultural sector. It is aimed at transferring knowledge, skills and new technologies to farmers to improve their production, income and standard of living.
The roles of an agricultural extension worker are:
Technology transfer: Agricultural extension workers help farmers to adopt new agricultural technologies that will improve their production and income.
Training: Extension workers provide training to farmers on how to use new technologies, crop and livestock management practices, marketing strategies, and other relevant skills.
Farm management: They provide advice on farm management practices such as crop rotation, soil conservation, and pest management.
Marketing: Extension workers help farmers to identify and access markets for their products, and to negotiate better prices.
Community development: They work with communities to identify their needs and develop programs that address their specific challenges.
Policy advocacy: Extension workers advocate for policies that support the development of agriculture, and provide input to policy-makers on issues affecting farmers and rural communities.
Research: They work with research institutions to identify new technologies and practices that can improve agricultural production, and to test and adapt these innovations to local conditions.
In summary, agricultural extension is a vital component of the agricultural sector, and agricultural extension workers play a crucial role in promoting sustainable agriculture and rural development.