Advantages of new agric extension

The New Agricultural Extension (NAE) approach has several advantages over the traditional extension approach. Some of the key advantages include:

  1. Participatory approach: NAE involves farmers in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of extension activities, which leads to more effective and sustainable solutions.
  2. Focus on farmer-led innovation: NAE encourages farmers to identify and prioritize their own needs and problems, and to develop their own solutions, which leads to more innovative and context-specific solutions.
  3. Emphasis on capacity building: NAE focuses on building the capacity of farmers, extension agents, and other stakeholders, which leads to long-term sustainability and self-reliance.
  4. Integration with other sectors: NAE recognizes the importance of integrating agriculture with other sectors, such as health, education, and environment, which leads to more holistic and sustainable development.
  5. Use of modern technologies: NAE encourages the use of modern technologies, such as mobile phones, drones, and precision agriculture, which can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of extension services.
  6. Increased farmer engagement: NAE encourages farmers to take an active role in the extension process, which leads to increased engagement and ownership of the process.
  7. Improved data collection and analysis: NAE emphasizes the importance of collecting and analyzing data to inform extension decisions, which leads to more evidence-based and effective extension services.
  8. Enhanced collaboration: NAE encourages collaboration among different stakeholders, including farmers, extension agents, researchers, and policymakers, which leads to more effective and sustainable solutions.
  9. Increased focus on smallholder farmers: NAE recognizes the importance of smallholder farmers and focuses on providing them with targeted support and services, which leads to more equitable and sustainable development.
  10. Scalability and replicability: NAE is designed to be scalable and replicable, which means that it can be adapted and implemented in different contexts and settings.
  11. Improved accountability: NAE emphasizes the importance of accountability and transparency, which leads to more effective and efficient use of resources.
  12. Increased focus on climate change: NAE recognizes the importance of climate change and focuses on providing farmers with the knowledge, skills, and resources they need to adapt to a changing climate.
  13. Improved market access: NAE recognizes the importance of market access and provides farmers with the knowledge, skills, and resources they need to access markets and improve their livelihoods.
  14. Increased focus on nutrition and health: NAE recognizes the importance of nutrition and health and provides farmers with the knowledge, skills, and resources they need to produce nutritious and healthy food.
  15. Improved policy and regulatory environment: NAE recognizes the importance of a supportive policy and regulatory environment and works to influence policy and regulatory changes that support agricultural development.

Overall, the New Agricultural Extension approach offers a more effective and sustainable way of delivering extension services to farmers, and can help to improve agricultural productivity, income, and food security.