Small and marginal farmers need to grow remunerative crops with less investment. To choose the particular crop, when to grow, how to grow as well as when to sale, where to sale in this aspects Agricultural Extension personnel can help the farmers. Even now a days lots of Government schemes as well as subsidy schemes are available for small and marginal farmers about which farmers are not aware. It is the duty of the Extension personnel to make them aware as well as facilitate them to avail these schemes, project and programmes.

Agricultural extension as a strategy for knowledge management and capacity building must take into account the multiplicity of actors in the new rurality with whom it is necessary to relate. To this end, it could focus on the following elements:

1- Each of the stages in the value chains and markets has different requirements and standards. Understand with some clarity how market demands are evolving.

2- The exchange of information is essential for competitiveness.

3- Greater and better use of ICTs is essential for farmers to have better access to markets and make better technology decisions.

4- Improving management for more efficient and sustainable production.

5- To consider the demands of consumption related to nutritional aspects, safety and human health.

6- How to manage quality and differentiation in new markets: post-harvest management, certification, denominations of origin.

7- Territorial approach to productive activity, which considers the flow of goods and services from and to the work territory.

8- Recovery and consideration of local and cultural knowledge and experiences.

9- Promote the development of innovation networks for the coordination of multiple actors.

10- Rural extension is more than just productive technology; to achieve better results, particularly with the poorest, it must act in a multidisciplinary and complementary manner.

Impossible to reply just as one comment, as there is all philosophy on the back.

Extension service is important instrument which stimulates the development of agricultural production. Agricultural extension service is link between holdings-producers, agricultural research and other, being a sources of information and catalyst of the processes. One of priorities in agricultural development is rising of the level of extension operation and establishment of extension service based on modern principles. Mutual interests determine the organizational and economical correlation between the state, producers, processors and extension service. How to be more of help to the small farmers: to listen their needs; to channel the communication to the Government services; to be the vector that is transferring the knowledge from the science to the farmers – but also reactions from the farmers to science; to be the bridge between the state, producers, processors. To be honest and high professionals.

Consider Jonny Jeavons double excavation method (I am including 2 of his papers). Also employing microlivestocks (honey bees, silk worms, earthworms, edible insects). Permaculture is the disciplines that teaches how to make small spaces bioproductive. The secret consists first in improving the soil and establish a diverse community of perennial plants. Unfortunately, these themes are not mainstream topics for agricultural extension. However NGOs that have programs in agriculture should have a lot of material. Consider also the literature in urban agriculture to look for ideas and resources for small scale farmers.

Simple answer - To make informed choices.

By developing a basket of integrated farming systems choices with their active participation and perspective of prevalent farming situation and enabling them to make optimal decisions based on available and feasible innovative models.

First and foremost, the extension agents should be empowered with adequate trainings both theoretically and practically in order to disseminate useful information to farmers and more importantly, fields demonstration should be performed to farmers the best practices of farming.

Aggregating farmers in to producer organisation is one of the best ways for small and marginal farmers. In motivating the farmers and changing their attitude and behaviour towards the concept, agricultural extension play a vital role. This will help in economies of scale

Involving research could better resolve the problem of small holder farmers. For Instance, results obtained from research on key issues concerning agriculture could help improve their understanding of new farming techniques and innovations which could increase production and hence their livelihoods

The land size is a big factor in farming but our farmers have to adopt other methods like hydroponics, hanging gardens to keep supplying food to the society. Extension officers must keep in touch with current scientific development

Besides land less or soil less farming techniques, another critical approach to be adopted by agricultural extension is inculcating cooperation and coordination spirit among farmers for their mobilization into self help groups, FIGs, CIGs , Cooperatives and FPOs etc. along with capacity building and empowerment of both i.e. field functionaries and these small institutions for profitable farming.

Mobilization of small farmers into groups is the best way forward. Extension personnel must address the problem of farmers and initiate programs in decentralized and location specific manner considering the farmer necessities rather than top to bottom. The focus should be upon empowering farmers with information, knowledge and skill rather than temporary succour. Farmers must be motivated to carry out farming in enterprise mode and they must be enabled to realize higher net incomes in sustainable basis. Connecting with agri-logistics, promotion of contract farming, developing entrepreneurial skill of small farmers and farming in cluster mode by forming groups are some key areas to focus upon.

Smallholders face difficult challenges as a consequence of climate change and the disturbances caused by COVID-19. They possibly have to adopt a more active role in agricultural extension than they did in the past. That means that they have to be more proactive in demanding the kind of services that different agents can provide. This also means that they should not rely only on support from the public sector but they should develop other interactions with NGOs, suppliers of agricultural inputs, research centers, cooperatives, agrarian associations, and any other institution that can provide knowledge and ideas. They will have to innovate and be flexible to adapt to changing circumstances. A business-like approach to their activities will also really help. Smallholders should take pride in knowing that they provide an essential service.

In my opinion, the first thing is to make informed decision with their participation. We tend to assume we know what farmers needs. Secondly, recognize the diversity in smallholder farming communities and provide a baskets of option from which farmers can select the most appropriate strategies considering their specificity in terms of abilities and capacities as well as their aspirations . Thirdly, we need to empower farmers organisations and professionalise the later. Finally, extension services should be able to promote public private partnership to facilitate access to rural services suxh as finance, road, electricity, water etc.

I think the three most important points are:

Improve your production systems.

Develop resilient systems.

Connect with the market.

Agricultural extension can help the small holder farmers through:

1. Educating the farmers on modern farming practices which gives higher output with little input. E.g. hydroponics, planting of improved seeds, among others.

2. Educate them on the important of adopting innovation as majority of smallholder farmers are risk averse.

3. Provision of high quality planting materials.

Small holder farmers listen more to fellow farmers therefore use farmer to farmer demonstrations.

Encourage intensive farming where crops and livestock can support the cropping system

Absolutely farmer to farmer extension approaches viz result demonstrations, field days, exposure visits will have greater influence than general instructional approaches but the focus should be on establishment of IFS demonstration units of 2 acres or 1 hectare in villages for higher visual effects of these approaches

As a extension scientist, we can transfer agricultural technology to the small farmers on need based and timely information. Moreover, we can adopt demand driven approach, concentrate on market oriented extension services this may be help small farmers to secure their livelihood status.

Integrated Farming Systems feasible for farming situation of individual small holder through action research cab best help the small holders for which dedicated multispecialty team of extension workers is required.

Small scale farmers in most cases follow early adopters but from a distance so employing farmer 4 farmer extension will help in a way by using fellow farmers to encourage them to adopt new ideas

Scientific Brother,

I'm in Brazil. I'm Biologist! Me and others Biologists want to help you. In Brazil se have Federal Instituition, EMBRAPA. A public Enterprise to help agriculture. You need to talk with the diplomatic sector of your country! EMBRAPA can help the brothers of Pakistan! They have projects for small farms!

Shubham Lamba

We should all help in facing these challenges. Doing research in Academia or in companies will not be enough if solutions are not correctly implemented in the field. Knowledge should be shared as much as possible and in doing so it becomes more valuable. In no way should smallholder farmers be afraid of advancing technology. What is vital is having skilled persons training them in whatever they need to be more efficient and productive.

Dear colleagues. I would like to add to your interestings comments and advice two concrete practices and principles that are crucial in a agricultural extension programme. One of them is external input independence, f.e. recycling of any kind of wastes. The second one are collaborative activities that can do it themselves.

if they are small or marginal farmers, they may go for integrated farming system with dissemination of technology in their farming.

Small farmers can become more powerful and influential if they cooperate with each other and if they unite for their common challenges. That requires creating trust among them and sharing their knowledge and experiences. An army of smallholders will attract the attention of the authorities and of the relevant agricultural institutions.

Agricultural extensionist should make a close link with all relevant public and private organizations (Research, regulatory agency, Financial, Agri input suppliers, input and produced Transporters and stores agents , market orient information supplies, etc.) which are directly or indirectly involving in supply chain and value added process of agricultural production system in order to provide timely effective and efficient service to farmer. Therefore Extensionist main role should be building up close partnership among key stakeholders to provide efficient and effective services to farmer

Extension is really a science that lead to provided the lab knowledge to farmer at their fields and give demo to technology in the farmers easly understandable language

First and foremost extension workers who are truly committed to the livelihood of rural communities should gain the trust of farmers. This is accomplished by listening to their stories, problems, challenges and ideas. In this lengthy process the extension worker should facilitate the discussion by creating a secure environment where everyone can express ideas and opinions. This process should be bottom-up so that extensionists may understand their context and only then they should be able to share their resources.

Agricultural extension processes can generate changes in farming communities through multiple approaches that contribute to better living conditions. One such approach is that of innovation networks in which knowledge is built, used, applied and made available for the common good. It also promotes agricultural innovations that can help improve productivity, link up with fair markets and, above all, recover local knowledge. In addition to promoting cooperation and synergies among the different actors in the innovation system (producers, markets, private sector, government, academia, etc.)

The response @ Galileo makes alot of sense although the current situation has worked against agricultural extension in that they are swindling in numbers for effective linkages beyond the farm. There is need to re-energize this field as we move into the digital world. Our farming communities easily get fatigue when results are ot coming soon.

Alice Ndiema Excellent appreciation as extension processes must ensure that interventions are rapid, objective and meet the needs of farmers. I agree that the use of information technologies is key to revitalizing the countryside, but this implies developing farmer access, especially in developing countries. In addition, I am considering a participatory agenda at the territorial level that will help solve priority problems and build effective, sustainable and relevant extension systems. The design of extension policies that contribute to the development of innovative rural

Agricultural extension provide best help to small farmer as well because they are closely connect to farmers in their fields ,they well know to government schemes and they updated the farmer .Through training and other extension service farmer got lots of information .extension provide lab to land information.

Mobilization of the small farmers into functional groups viz. SHGs, FIGs, Commodity groups etc. for certain commercial crops can greatly help them

Agricultural extension can help farmers by assisting farmers get market for their produce. In addition, they can help them get help on storage to avoid post harvest loses.

The response at kiptum is good but we will need to go beyond the market. The products need value addition and use market intelligence to plant what has a market beforehand

Extension agents should stand in between researchers and smallholder farmers in order to disseminate a prompt and desicive research findings to farmers. Also, demonstration plots should be established in order to show farmers a practical ways of going about farming that best suits their environment.

Yes Olatunji, demonstration plots by farmers will promote agro-tourism which will improve the livelihoods of the common citizen.

A possible alternative to help small farmers is enabling Agricultural Extension to instruct workers in Organic Farming. Besides the environmental benefits farmer can increase their income with more added-value organic produce. Commercialization of these products can also be supported by Agricultural Extension strategies and adequate training and counseling of farmers.

This are critical contribution but we are now in the digital divide where information easily accessed by farmers. Beside the old approaches of information transfer we should now train farmers to use their handsets

Agricultural extension program will help to increase productivity of the farm, reduce poverty, minimise the food productivity etc.this can be done by the teaching technical and managerial skill and demonstrate the new relevant technology at the farmer field.

Agricultural extension programs will help to improve farmer's knowledge and change their atitude on adoption of good agricultural practices and thereby improving productivity and profitability of agri-business. With the increase of farm income, their livelihood becomes upscalling

Knowledge acquired by farmers from agricultural extensión programs is essential, but building trust is equally important. Farmers need to know that they are backed by serious, responsible institutions that really care for them. One aspect to consider is that trust takes a long time to be built, and it can be destroyed instantly.

Has farmers come to the realization of how important the work of the extension is? In Ghana, it's difficult to embrace change because farmers are used to their old and cherished methods of farming. No matter how they are taught or convinced to understand our job, the attitude towards the change is what matters. And it's not so easy dealing with change.