Approaches for Knowledge Sharing and Dissemination

Current agricultural scenario is marked by globalisation of market, depletion of natural resources, overuse of agrochemicals (including pesticide and weedicide), burning of biomass creating environmental pollution, degradation of soil health, etc. To overcome these problems, sustainability of agriculture is emphasised. Moreover, with the globalisation of agriculture, quality agricultural production is being stressed more rather than quantity alone. In this context, there is a need to think about the approaches that can bring about the attitudinal changes rather than only technological changes. Extension effectiveness is dependent on these ingredients, which are outside its control. Extension is a link between research and the farmers. Different approaches are used for knowledge sharing and technological dissemination around the world due to varying capacities and capabilities of the clients. Different approaches can operate effectively, if the people involved understand these approaches and want to make these to function. There is no single approach that can be recommended for all countries. The challenge to extension agencies is not to use one approach rigidly, but to create desirable conditions for effective extension work. It is true that each and every approach for organising extension has certain strengths and weaknesses that must be given attention. No single approach is more appropriate than others. An endeavour has been made in this paper to identify the approaches that can be more effective in bringing about the change in affective/psychomotor and cognitive aspects of behaviour required at this juncture. Approaches can be classified as multipurpose/monopurpose, voluntary/statutory, client/area/problem oriented, supply/services or a combination of both. Under the current scenario, a mix of all these extension approaches would be required. This paper gives an outline of appropriate mix of these approaches required in the present situation.