Extension Education: 

Levels of Extension; Extension operates at two major levels, each with distinct goals and responsibilities:

1. Extension Education; Definition: It refers to the academic and theoretical aspect of extension, aimed at generating knowledge and capacity building through training, teaching, and research.

• Performed by:
  • Agricultural Universities
  • ICAR Institutes
  • Home Science Colleges
  • Other Apex-level Training and Extension Institutions

• Integrated Approach:
  • At Universities: Extension is integrated with both Teaching and Research.
  • At Research Institutes: Extension complements Research Activities.
  • At Training Institutions: Extension supports Training Programs focused on capacity development.
• Purpose: To develop professionals and scholars who can implement extension principles at field level and help in rural transformation.

Extension Service;

Definition: This is the practical and operational arm of extension, where actual services are delivered to farmers and rural people.

• Provided by: Mostly by State Governments through various departments like:
  • Agriculture
  • Animal Husbandry
  • Horticulture
  • Fisheries
  • Rural Development

• Key Features:
  • Location-Specific: Based on agro-climatic and socio-economic conditions.
  • Input-Intensive: Utilizes inputs like seeds, fertilizers, tools, etc.
  • Target-Oriented: Focused on achieving measurable results.
  • Result-Oriented: Designed for visible and tangible improvements in livelihoods.
• Goal: To educate rural communities and improve their quality of life through non-formal education.

Philosophy of Extension Education

• What is Philosophy? Philosophy means the love of wisdom, or pursuit of truth.
• It refers to a set of guiding beliefs or principles that direct the purpose and practices of extension education.

Extension Education Philosophy; According to Kelsey and Hearne (1967): “The basic philosophy of extension is to teach people how to think, not what to think.”

Objectives of Extension Education; Objectives guide the actions of extension workers and institutions. These are categorized into three levels:

• Fundamental Objectives
• Broadest and most general goals of extension.
• Aim for overall development of the rural population.
• Includes:
  • Better standard of living
  • Good citizenship
  • Democratic values
  • Economic and social equity
• Example: Encouraging participation in grassroots planning and community empowerment.

• General Objectives
• More specific than fundamental, but still broad.
• Related to achieving social and administrative goals.
• Example: Establishment of Panchayati Raj Institutions across states to ensure decentralized governance.

Working/Specific Objectives

• These are action-oriented objectives at the operational or field level.
• Examples:
  • Conducting timely panchayat elections
  • Providing funds and facilities to local bodies
  • Implementing relevant laws and policies

🌟 Note: Objectives act as a compass that gives direction and ensures alignment of all extension activities.

Functions of Extension Education

The primary function of extension is to bring about desirable changes in human behavior through non-formal education. This behavior change can be in:

1. Knowledge → What people know (e.g., awareness of improved seeds).
2. Skills → How they do things (e.g., adopting improved sowing techniques).
3. Attitudes → How they feel/react (e.g., positive attitude toward scientific farming).
4. Understanding → How they comprehend issues (e.g., understanding the importance of soil testing).
5. Goals → What they aim to achieve (e.g., doubling productivity).
6. Action → What they do (e.g., use of organic fertilizers).
7. Confidence → How self-reliant they are (e.g., decision-making ability in farming).
8. Behavior change is the core of extension — without it, there is no progress.