Author(s):

Itigi Prabhakar, Swetha BS, Ashoka N, Ravikumar B and Srinivasulu GB

Abstract: The primary goal of most governments is to reduce investment in agricultural extension while maintaining food security. India is also reducing its public investment in agricultural extension. Today, India is in the process of privatizing its input system to improve farmer access to purchase of inputs and to create a more efficient input supply system. In this process, the Indian extension system will most likely shift its attention to pressing needs. The concept of privatisation in agriculture extension service refers to the process of involving multiple sources of extension information to serve the growing demands of farmers for technological knowledge and skills. This however, does not replace the activities of public sector extension but allows them to concentrate on neglected areas, clientele and activities. This calls for new set of organisations to coordinate efforts of several agencies, monitor them and regulate output continuously. No doubt, Public Extension System is still playing a major role in the extension activities to reach farming communities but it has some limitations viz. its supply driven rather than demand driven philosophy, inefficient working staff, ineffective management of human and physical resources etc. So, in order to make extension system effective and efficient in the country, privatisation is must to some to extent. Thus, Private Extension Service Providers (PESPs) can play supplementary and complementary role to the Public Extension System. But at the same time it cannot supplant or substitute Public Extension System in the country in the present context. This paper discusses various issues related to problems of Indian agriculture, status of Indian extension system, extension strategies for 21st century, need of Private Extension Service, its supplementary and complementary role to Public Extension System and concerns of farming community regarding Private Extension Service.

Pages: 1890-1893  |  1276 Views  658 Downloads

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