E-Extension (EXT 505) (2+1)jnkvv.org/PDF/09042020221814M.Sc_Courses_E-extension__EXT_505.pdfICT Extension approaches-pre-requisites, information and Science needs of Fa rming Community

E-Extension (EXT 505) (2+1)

Theory

UNIT-I

ICTs- Concept, definition, tools and application in extension education.

Reorganizing the extension efforts using ICTs, advantages, limitations and opportunities

UNIT-II

ICTs projects, case studies in India and developing word.

Different approaches (models) to ICTs

ICT use in field of Extension- Expert systems on selected crops and enterprises

Self learning CDs on package of practices, diseases and pest management, Agricultural web

sites and portal related crop production and marketing etc

UNIT-III

Community radio, Web, Tele and Video conferencing,

Computer added Extension

Knowledge management, Information Kiosks, Multimedia Online, offline Extension

Tools- Mobile technologies, e-learning concepts

UNIT-IV

ICT Extension approaches-pre-requisites, information and Science needs of Farming

Community

Need integration

Human resource information

Intermediaries

Basic e-extension training issues

ICT enabled extension pluralism

Emerging issues in ICT

Practical

1. Agril. Content analysis of ICT Projects

2. Handling of ICT tools

3. Designing extension content

4. Online extension service

5. Project work on ICT enabled extension.

6. Creation of extension blogs

7. Visit to ICT extension projects

Books

1. Batnakar S & Schware R. 2000. Information and Communication Technology in

Development-Cases from India. Sage Publication.

2. Meera SN. 2008. ICTs in Agricultural Extension : Tactical to Practical. Ganga-Kaveri

Publ. House. Jangam WadiMath, Varanasi.

3. Willium Zip. 1994. Improving the transfer and use of Agricultural information – A guide to

Information Technology. The World Bank, Washington

DEPARTMENT OF EXTENSION EDUCATION COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE, JABALPUR (M.P.)

Name of Course: E Extension (EXT-505)

M.Sc. (Second Semester)

Lecture-I

E-Extension is also known as cyber extension

It is defined as the ‘extension over cyber space’.

But, in applied context of agriculture, cyber extension means, "using the power of online

networks, computer communications & digital interactive multi-media to facilitate

dissemination of Agrl. Technology”.

It includes effective use of ICT, national & international information networks, internet,

expert systems, multimedia learning systems & computer based training systems to

improve information access to the farmers, extension workers, research scientists &

extension managers.

Information Needs of Farming Community

Maintaining the quality of produce is one of the important issue before the farming community nowadays.

Finding appropriate technological options is another challenge before the farmer, wherein the extension machineries as well as the research system is working on this.

Management of the technology. Management of technology is one of the important issue before the farming community.

The optimal use of inputs. Farmers are using the inputs but whether they are using it in the desired manner, the appropriate manner or the recommended manner is one of the important issue.

Exploring the options. Because farmer has number of options. Because traditionally he is cultivating various crops, but the research system is suggesting them something new methods. Now he is in a dilemma, whether to go for the traditional methods or the modern methods, wherein he has to explore various options; maybe it is related to the mixed farming or diversification of the crops or animal husbandry, fisheries or various other diversification options that he can think of.

Locating appropriate input suppliers. So this is one of the important issue in case agriculture and allied sciences. Because the number of service providers are relatively less as on date; we can say that. But how to ensure the quality inputs and timely availability of inputs is another important issue.

Shared action with the fellow farmers. The basic issue with the Indian farmers is. More than 80% of the holdings are small and marginal. Under such circumstances the marketable surplus for the purpose of marketing is very less for about 80% of the farming communities in Indian context. So under such circumstances if they are not


sharing the resources or the produce or if they are not forming themselves into different groups or if they are not adopting the group approaches, it is becoming very difficult for them to market their produce and gain the profits.

Identifying and satisfying consumer as well as the marketing demands, because as a receiver the receivers are having huge number of demands, but the farmers are not able to supply because there exists a gap.

Diversification of income generation activities is another information need of the farmers. And now the governments are also emphasizing on doubling the farmer’s income. Without diversification of agriculture, we cannot think of income generation.

Understanding the implication of changing policies. So government is coming out with a number of policy modifications and how the farmer can get the benefits of that. So earlier farmer was not allowed to trade his produce (agricultural produce) but with the modification in case of Companies Act in 2005, so now the farmer can also become a trader, so that he can maximize his profits. So under such circumstances how the farmer is becoming aware of these things. So government is providing number of platforms; e-mediated platforms maybe through e-NAM, maybe through AGMARKNET or through the Farmers Net seed portal. Number of such options are being given to the farmers. But how to take these things to the farmers is one of the important information needs of the farmer.

Judicious utilization of agricultural finance. There was a time, so where to get the agricultural finance itself was a major issue. But now the finance is available. The financial organizations are coming forward to provide the agricultural finance, but how to make efficient use of this finance is the issue.

The collective action. If the farmers are not coming together. It is very difficult to maximize their profits.

Evolving coping strategies for the climate change, which is not in the control of anybody. But the researcher’s extension mechanisms as well as the farmers put together can come out with certain strategies; how they can adjust themselves to the changing situation.

Need For e-Extension

The first and foremost thing is to expand the knowledge resource. So earlier there used to be very limited sources of knowledge. But with the e-mediation, we can enhance these e- knowledge sources.

To accelerate agricultural growth. If you look at the growth of agriculture. At the time of independence the population was around 30 crores, and the agricultural production was around 50 million tons. But over a period of time this 50 million tons has reached to more than 280 million tons now. It means almost there is a growth of around 6.5 to 7 times growth is there. So that is not possible without the involvement of the technology and various issues in between. So how we can enhance this growth now; so that is the issue wherein e-Extension is going to play a role.

Facilitate better information access. The sources of information even today, if you look at; the traditional sources, majority of the farmers are still dependent upon.


That is their friends, the relatives; more than 60 to 70% are dependent upon. But there is another section which is dependent on the cosmopolitan sources of information. So now how can we expand these numbers, so that is what is the target before the e-Extension, and that is why we need the e- Extension interventions.

To supplement inadequate technical manpower. In my previous discussion I said that the widening gap between the farmers and extension workers, ratio. For every more than 2000 farmers, there is only 1 extension worker. How he can cater to the needs of the 2000+ farmers. E-mediation is the only way, so that is why we need e-Extension.

For stronger research-extension- client system linkage. So these three systems are existing, but whether there is an organic relationship between these two, so this mechanism of e-Extension is going to help them in establishing these relationships. Maybe just to give an example, by the mechanism of e-mediation like through the social media. You take the example of WhatsApp groups. If the farmer is a member of a particular WhatsApp group. So he is always having the linkage with the scientist as well as the extension service provider, and at the same time he can be linked with the input suppliers also, so that the organic relationships can be established in this way.

To develop efficient feedback mechanism. In the traditional way so to get the feedback, the scientists were also having a lot of difficulties, because they were supposed to visit the field. But now the portals, then the websites, then the mobile based extension services are helping them to get the efficient feedback from the farmers.

The cost effective extension delivery. So with the e-mediation. Because the major problem with the extension mechanism was the mobility support to be provided to the extension professionals. So with the e-mediation, we can reduce that mobility support. It means we are saving lot of financial inputs in delivering the extension mechanism. And at the same time one extension worker can cater to many farmers.

To develop knowledge managers with the help of giving the tools and techniques of e-Extension to these knowledge managers. Knowledge managers are going to be the efficient e-Extension workers in the days to come so that we can bridge the gap between the extension workers as well as the farmers.

To ensure gender equity in technology transfer process because if you look at the extension mechanisms. So because it involves huge amount of travelling as well as interaction with the farmers and farming communities. So it is as on date dominated by the male. Because ICT’s are gender neutral as well as age neutral. So by adopting the ICT mechanisms or the e-Extension mechanisms we can reduce this gender gap also.

To empower small and marginal farmers. The empowerment is by the means of providing appropriate information, when it is required. Timely and appropriate information. These are two important inputs for the small and marginal farmers to empower them, and e-Extension is the way we can achieve these targets.

To serve the farm stakeholders beyond technology transfer role, not only providing them the production related technology. By providing them the


processing as well as marketing and various other options also is the need for e-Extension.

NEED FOR E-EXTENSION

To accelerate agricultural growth

To expand knowledge resource

To facilitate better information access

To supplement inadequate technical manpower

For stronger research-extension – Client system linkage

To develop efficient feedback mechanism

For cost-effective extension delivery

To develop knowledge managers

To ensure gender equity in technology transfer process

To empower small and marginal farmers

To serve the farm stakeholders beyond technology transfer role

Use of ICTs has been put forth for:

Bridging the knowledge deficit among farmers

Enhancing the capabilities of extension personnel, and

Strengthening the research-extension-farmer linkages.


Name of Course: E Extension (EXT-505)

M.Sc. (Second Semester)

Lecture-II

Information Technology

Information: Is data that have been put into a meaningful and useful context and

communicated to a recipient who uses it to make decisions.

IT: It refers to computer based technology and telecommunications. These are

electronic systems for receiving, processing, storing, retrieving and transmitting

information.

Information Communication Technology

Information and communications technology (ICT) is often used as an extended

synonym for information technology (IT).

The term ICT is also used to refer to the convergence of audio-visual and telephone

networks with computer networks through a various linking systems.

ICT covers any product that will store, retrieve, manipulate, transmit or receive

information electronically in a digital form.

Concept

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) consists of three main technologies.

They are: Computer Technology, Communication Technology and Information

Management Technology. These technologies are applied for processing, exchanging

and managing data, information and knowledge.

Unique Features of ICT

Access to the astounding store-house of information is free The information is available instantaneously round the year and twenty four

hours a day, Communication can also be interactive The information is available from any point on the globe The communication is dynamic and ever growing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_and_Communication_Technology


Meaning

ICTs or Information and Communication Technologies are emerging as an

important tool for the development of societies and have driving forces in the economies

world- wide.

ICTs are no more confined to assist high- end research and development; the

new technologies have made significant improvements in the life- styles and the

efficiency- levels of all sectors of economy.

Definitions

ICT has no universal definition, since "the concepts, methods and applications involved

in ICT are constantly evolving on an almost daily basis.

According to Wikipedia (2008), the term ICT is the broader term of Information

Technology (IT), to explicitly include the field of electronic communication, in addition to

IT.

The term IT is defined as “the study, design, development, implementation, support or

management of computer- based information systems, particularly software

applications and computer hardware.” IT deals with the use of electronic computers and

computer software to convert, store, protect, process, transmit and retrieve information,

securely.

The agriculture sector is gearing itself to make optimal use of the new information

and communication technologies. At the Government of India level, a number of

important initiatives have been taken to provide IT Hardware and connectivity to all

organizations involved in Agricultural Education, research, development and

dissemination. Simultaneously, Agricultural content development initiatives have been

taken by Ministry of Agriculture, in collaboration with National Informatics Centre (NIC),

to provide marketing information of various agricultural commodities to the farming

community. Another content- creation and aggregation initiative is being supported by

Indian Council of Agricultural Research, National Agricultural Innovations Project

(NAIP), International Crop Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) have


been roped in to guide National Agricultural Research System to design, development

and implement Knowledge Management Systems (KMS) in Agriculture.

ICTs are thus emerging as very important tools for Agricultural Extension, and it

is now a must for every Agriculture graduate to have working knowledge of computers,

Communications, Internet and World -Wide Web.

Application of ICT in Extension Education

There are various ICT tools or applications available to simplify the operation for

general purpose use to mission critical applications. The general purpose

applications can be used to simplify the day-to-day operations in the

organization. The following range of ICT tools (applications) is available for the

general purpose use.

Word processing applications – used for preparing text documents

Presentation software – used for preparing presentations

Spreadsheets – used for calculation and preparing tabular data with calculations

Databases – used to store the information in the form of records and retrieving

information using query mechanism

Multimedia – used to organize the information more meaningful manner with the

help of text, images, animation, audio and videos

Web Browsers and E-mail – used to searching information and sending or

receiving mail using Internet

Word Processing

Word processing software is used to manipulate a text document,

such as a resume or a report.

Creating, editing, saving and printing documents. Copying, pasting, moving and deleting text within a document. Formatting text, such as font type, bolding, underlining or

italicizing. Creating and editing tables. Inserting elements from other software, such as illustrations or photographs. Correcting spelling and grammar.


Presentation Software

Presentation software is a category of application software that is specifically designed

to allow users to create a presentation of ideas by stringing together text, images and

audio/video. The presentation tells a story or supports speech or the presentation of

information.

Spreadsheet

Microsoft excel is a powerful spreadsheet that is easy to use and allows you to store,

manipulate, analyse and visualize data. It also supports data bases, graphic and

presentation features. It is a powerful research tool that needs minimum of teaching. It

not only makes statistics enjoyable, it also brings live to numerical work.

Databases

Databases are collection of records, each record describing an entity such as book,

journal, article or any other document or object in a machine readable form. They can

be available on a range of media such as magnetic tapes, floppies, computer hard

disks, CD- ROMs and video discs.

CD-ROMs

CD-ROMs are special laser based information storage media. In CD-ROM the data is greatly compressed or compacted and that it can only

be read and not written. You can retrieve the information contained in it, but cannot add any new information; it is really a boon for developing countries like India where access to on-line services is very much limited.

Interactive Computer Video Technology

One of the most popular multimedia technologies that has been used in ICVT, It links the computer to audio-video reply in such a way as to provide the trainee with individualized truly interactive instruction.

ICVT can contribute to resolving problems of relevant farm information and improve the quality of extension services.

Interactive Video Disc

IVD is one of the popular multimedia technologies, there is a video Disc player which access the video images stored on a two- channel audio-disc. Other media of information are text, graphics, animation and digitized audio which supplement the audio on the video disc.

The cost of multimedia is probably the biggest issue that will be raised. However the cost drops. Proportionately as the number of users get increased.


IMCD

Interactive multimedia compact disc (IMCD) is one of the most versatile audio visual medium of communication. It is very efficient, accurate, quick and somewhat cheaper in the field of disseminating the agricultural technologies from research system to the farmers.

Multimedia communication is the representation, storage, retrieval and dissemination of machine processable information expressed in multimedia such as text, voice, image, audio and video.

Computer Assisted Instruction

CAI is a natural outgrowth of the application of the principle of programmed learning.

The computer can store a massive amount of organized information, which can be made available for individualized instruction to meet the needs of the particular learner.

CAI can be arranged for teaching up to forty thousand learners simultaneously

Advantages of ICT tools

Through ICT, images can easily be used in teaching and improving the retentive memory of students.

Through ICT, teachers can easily explain complex instructions and ensure students' comprehension.

Through ICT, teachers are able to create interactive classes and make the lessons more enjoyable, which could improve student attendance and concentration.

Limitations of ICT tools

Setting up the devices can be very troublesome. Too expensive to afford Hard for teachers to use with a lack of experience

using ICT tools.

CYBER EXTENSION: DISSEMINATION OF

AGRICULTURAL INFORMATION

SEEMA NABERIA

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

DEPARTMENT OF EXTENSION EDUCATION

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE, JNKVV

JABALPUR

PERSONAL & GROUP CONTACT IN THE 19TH

CENTURY

USE OF ELECTRONIC MEDIA IN THE

21ST CENTURY

USE OF PRINT MEDIA IN THE 20TH

CENTURY

Poor

ratio of SMS to agents

Lower level of

education of

extension agents

Short supply

of extension

agents

More number of

farmer per extension

worker

More area to

be covered by

agents

Less number

of female

extension

agents

Human Resource

of Extension

Poor

transportation

facility to agents

Lower pay to extension agents

Less Availability of Programme

Cost

Poor housing

to extension

workers

Poor

communication

facility to agents

Very little

expenditure

per farmer

Financial Resource

of Extension

Cyber

According to Oxford Dictionary the word Cyber means relating to information technology the internet , and virtual reality , the cyber space.

Cyber space thus can be defined as the imaginary space behind the interconnected telecommunications and computer networks, the virtual world .

Extension stands for “the action or process of enlarging or extending something”. It could be extension of area, time or space.

Cyber Extension

• Cyber Extension thus can be defined as the

“Extension over Cyber Space”. • In the applied context of Agriculture, Cyber

Extension means “using the power of

online networks, computer

communications and digital interactive

multimedia to facilitate dissemination of

agricultural technology”.

Concept of Cyber Extension

Cyber Space is the imaginary or Virtual space of

computers connected with each other on

Networks, across the globe.

These computers can access information in

form of Text, Graphics, audio, video and

animation files. Software tools on networks

provide facilities to interactively access the

information from connected servers.

Information Needs of Farmers

The main focus of ICT in agriculture is meeting the farmers

needs for information. The following are some vital needs of

farmers that seem to be imperative for the growth and

development of agriculture –

Market information Market information including price

updates of agricultural commodities of surrounding districts

on a daily basis. For farmers, the price updates of markets

outside their villages have a higher priority so that they can

compare the prices and choose to sell at the appropriate

place.

Information on latest techniques and technologies

Continuous advancement in technology brings up gradation

to agricultural machinery and techniques too. Up to date

information regarding latest technologies in agriculture and

animal husbandry is of immense importance for growth.

Information Needs of Farmers

Information about rural development programs and

subsidies

Provision of detailed information on Government initiatives

for rural development for those the programs are addressed.

The areas that suffer from droughts, floods or other natural

disasters frequently receive grants and subsidies from the

Government. Information related to these programs is

particularly important to small and marginal farmers.

Weather forecasting Updated information on weather such

as temperature, humidity, forecasts on rains. Latest (best)

packages of practices Information on „best practices‟ of

cultivation is important need of the farmers. Information

regarding drought resistant varieties of certain crops can be

important for farmers to withstand longstanding droughts in

some areas.

General agricultural news

General news and information related to various

agricultural events in villages and districts.

Information on insurance / claim processing Detailed

information on crop insurance schemes, the type of

damage covered and compensation offered premiums to

be paid, etc.

Input prices and availability Information relating to the

availability of agricultural inputs like seeds, fertilizers,

manures, etc. and prices.

Early warning and management of diseases and pests In

the areas of continuous droughts, pests and diseases do

not generally pose a major threat. However, in other areas

this information is useful. Also, early warning in case of

some crops like sugarcane is important.

Soil testing and soil sampling information:

Information related to testing of quality or nature of soil is

very important for farmers as the soil directly relates to

productivity of crops. If this information is easily available

to the farmers, it prepares farmers to get the best produce

given the resources.

Post-harvest technology

Education on post-harvest technology and storage is as

vital as pre-harvest. Farmers are getting aware of the value

addition of food processing.

Tools of Cyber Extension

• E-Mail

• World wide web

• Telnet

• Interactive Expert Systems

• Video Conferencing

• Internet browsing for Extension Information;

• File Transfer Protocol FTP

Cyber technology

Some tools for connectivity

Tools of Cyber Extension

Some Experiences in Cyber Extension

Information Village Centre 1998

Gyandoot

AGMARKNET-

AGRISNET

a Aqua

e krishi

e sagu

ITC–e choupal

Kisan call centre

Soochana se samadhan

Tara haat

Gyansanchar

KMA 2008

E-Extension (EXT 505) (2+1)jnkvv.org/PDF/09042020221814M.Sc_Courses_E-extension__EXT_505.pdfICT Extension approaches-pre-requisites, information and Science needs of Fa rming Community

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