Privatization of Extension
Definition (Savas): Reducing the role of government or increasing the role of the private sector in agricultural extension.
First example worldwide: Chile (1978) – first to test a fully privatized extension service.
Advantages
- Reduces government burden.
- Improves efficiency & accountability.
- Encourages innovation.
Disadvantages
- Information flow restricted.
- Benefits mainly commercial farmers.
- Weakens direct farmer–extension worker link.
Example (India):
- Mahindra Krishi Vihar (MKV): Mahindra & Mahindra established Krishi Vihars to provide advisory and input services.
- ITC e-Choupal: ITC provides digital extension, market linkages, and weather/farming advice directly to farmers.
Public–Private Partnership (PPP) in Extension
Definition: A collaboration where public + private sectors share planning, resources, and risks to achieve mutual objectives.
Types of Partnership
- Representational: One contributes marginal funds, the other takes major responsibility. Example: State Dept. of Agriculture allowing input companies to sponsor farmer fairs.
- Contractual: One partner funds another to carry out specific tasks. Example: IFFCO & ICAR partnerships for farmer training programs.
- Mutual: Finance, research execution, and risk shared equally. Example: Dhanuka Agritech Ltd + Dept. of Agriculture, MP → joint farmer training in Hoshangabad.
Contract Farming (as PPP/Private Extension)
Definition: A system where farmers enter into an agreement with companies to produce agricultural products for predetermined prices, quality standards, and supply arrangements.
Benefits to Farmers:
- Assured market & price.
- Access to quality inputs & technology.
- Reduced market risks.
Examples in India:
- PepsiCo in Punjab (1989): Introduced contract farming in tomato & potato for food processing.
- Amul Dairy Model (Gujarat): Long-term milk procurement contracts + extension services.
- Sugarmills in UP & Maharashtra: Contract agreements with sugarcane farmers (inputs + assured purchase).
- McCain Foods (Potato contracts in Gujarat): Provides seeds, technical advice, and buys back produce.
Research–Extension–Farmer Interface (REFI)
Meaning; The Research–Extension–Farmer Interface is a mechanism that brings scientists (research system), extension personnel (transfer system), and farmers (user system) together on a common platform for two-way communication.
- It helps transfer of technology (TOT) from research → farmers.
- It ensures feedback from farmers → extension → research for refinement of technologies.
Objectives
- To bridge the gap between research, extension, and farmers.
- To provide a forum for dialogue among researchers, extension agents, and farmers.
- To ensure need-based and location-specific technologies.
- To assess the impact of technologies in farmers’ fields.
- To provide feedback for refinement of research priorities.
Levels of REFI
- National Level → ICAR, DACFW (Policy & planning).
- State Level → SAUs, State Dept. of Agriculture.
- District Level → KVKs, ATMA.
- Village Level → Farmer meetings, Demonstrations, FFS.
Examples of REFI in India
- Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) – frontline demonstrations, on-farm testing, training.
- ATMA (Agricultural Technology Management Agency) – organizes farmer–scientist interactions at block/district level.
- Farmer FIRST Programme (FFP) – ICAR initiative (2016) focusing on farmer–research interface.
- National Agricultural Innovation Project (NAIP, 2006) – promoted consortia of research-extension-farmer linkages.
- Interface Meetings – regularly conducted by ICAR institutes, SAUs, ATARIs.
Process Flow
Research Institutes / SAUs → Extension Agencies (KVK, ATMA, NGOs) → Farmers → Feedback → Research Refinement
Importance
- Reduces the research–extension gap.
- Makes research demand-driven rather than supply-driven.
- Promotes adoption of new technologies.
- Strengthens public–private–NGO–farmers partnerships.
Fact for ASRB NET:
- ICAR initiated “Interface Workshops/Meetings” in 1979 to strengthen linkage between research, extension, and farmers.
