Agricultural extension is the use of modern communication techniques instead of traditional agricultural extension
As the average person in the developing world more freely accesses mobile telephones and the internet, it opens many opportunities to provide information and extension tools. At the moment the tools are lagging behind the technology, and so there is much opportunity to make an impact in this area.
The electronic extension services to agriculture is a network of institutes that provide a more efficient alternative to a traditional extension system for agriculture, fisheries and natural resources sectors. It plays a crucial role in promoting agricultural productivity, increasing food security, improving rural livelihoods, and promoting agriculture as an engine of pro-poor economic growth.
The e-extension is having various dimensions among of them are timelines and quickness. As agricultural operations are time bound and uncertainty is always associated with it, in this context e-extension intervention are the fastest and reliable means of delivering extension services to farmers. And in coming future more of farmers are expected to use ICT hence it can be a best supportive tool for conventional extension system. e- extension can only be a means to seek information which is also a valuable agricultural input and in most developed countries and in few developing countries ICT is used to order agricultural inputs from online agricultural stores. e-extension cannot fully overtake conventional extension service since research findings says still majority of the farmers in developing nations are inclined towards conventional extension system. The win -win situation is possible only when there is an balanced operational blending of e-extension and conventional extension methods.
I have put some light on your question from my limited knowledge, hope it will be useful for you.
Electronic means of extending information to farmers is becoming a fastest way of disseminating information in developing world (Nigeria). This is because young farmers have access to mobile phones and therefore easy for the extension workers to pass new innovation to farmers across.
Currently e-extension is the only measure to reach maximum number of farmers who are using android or basic phones. But before that it is also required to document the actual need of the farmers and that is too possible through e-media. In a study it was observed that if we provide the farmer's a need base information, they are utilizing the same upto approx 80 per cent, whereas, currently without needbase information the adaptation rate is around 5 per cent.
Quite helpful in agriculture sector.. facing some hurdles in animal husbandry extension subsector
E-extension is not only important for improving rural livelihoods and promoting agriculture but also helpful in increasing food security
Extension personnel is not available as per demand and requirement particular in India. So,in these case e-extension can play a key role to disseminate valuable information regarding agriculture in the farming community.
It's importance is immense, and needs to be conjoined with mobile data communication as well.
To reach every place at the same time this is very important. And even during this lock-down situations farmers need the information. So e-extension is very important.
e-Extension services are more useful when more number of farmers who are widely distributed in a larger geographical area are to be reached within a shortest possible time. Please see tamil Nadu experience with e-Velanmai project done by me. C.Karthikeyan, TNAU, Coimbatore
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