PLA Notes CD-ROM 1988-2001 3 Involving resource-poor farmers in agricultural extension

Document begins: PLA Notes CD-ROM 1988­2001 3 Involving resource-poor farmers in agricultural extension S. K. Pradhan Introduction Improving extension through Venn diagramming Conventional agricultural research and extension did not seem to benefit the The K.V.K is meant to serve as a `light house', smallholder farmers in the risk prone areas in to guide the progress of the farmers and the the state of Tripura, India. The land consists of research scientists. In terms of extension undulating hillocks, and extension and services, it is important to use the right media development activities did not seem to and methods to get extension messages percolate into these communities. The through to farmers. We used Venn diagrams scientists and field extensionists of the Kriki with different groups of farmers to understand Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Farm Science Centre how useful various extension activities attributed this to: undertaken by K.V.K were for them (see Figure 1). · the gap between local practices and the technology packages advocated by KVK; Figure 1. Venn diagram of the · local dependency on external institutions effectiveness of extension efforts and subsidy; and, · local expectations for physical inputs, such as seeds, fertilizers, animals and feed. Extension and development programmes are ...