1.1 The Role and Purpose of Extension in Aquaculture
1.2 The Role of Government Policy in Development of Extension Methodologies
Agricultural extension is now recognized as a potent and critical force in the development process. It has been defined as "a service or system which assists farm people through educational procedures in improving farming methods and techniques, increasing production efficiency and income, bettering their levels of living, and lifting the social and educational standards of rural life." (Maunder, 1973).
Functions generally attributed to agricultural extension include "to communicate agricultural research findings and recommendations to farm people, and to bring farm people into contact with sources of practical and useful information through organized group action". Activities of extension involve "agents working with farmers to teach improved farming practices, new techniques, and more productive or more efficient technologies ... organized within a system with administrative direction and support." (Axinn, 1988).
The structure, goals, strategies, and organization of any extension system vary with the multitude of sectoral goals and objectives of national governments. Therefore, any particular extension system reflects the underlying culture, philosophies, and priorities of the political, economic, and social environment in which it evolved.
The primary objective of this document is to present and discuss alternative aquaculture extension methodologies, strategies, techniques, and organizational structures. The intent is not necessarily to provide an all-encompassing census of extension systems, but rather to bring the principal issues to the fore. It is hoped that this document will stimulate discussion and analysis of aquaculture extension systems in different countries in the search for effective and efficient technology transfer mechanisms to further development of the aquaculture sector around the world.
Various sources were used to compile information for this document, such as project documents, interviews, telephone calls, and a survey instrument (Annex 1). The data from the survey represent the experience and opinions of those responding, and their help is gratefully acknowledged. Those who provided more specific information are cited. The document and the information it contains does not pretend to be a global encyclopaedia of aquaculture extension, but rather a vehicle for encouraging further thought and analysis of this most essential component of aquaculture development.
Aquaculture is a new technology in many parts of the world, while in others it is a well developed tradition. Such differences affect the scope and nature of extension efforts among different nations.
The primary purpose of aquaculture extension is to improve production of aquatic organisms for food and wealth for farmers, as well as for the nation as a whole. Extension programmes are justified by the fact that economic development resulting from extension activities should more than compensate for the national investment required to provide these services.
Extension activities can be divided into three primary functions:
(i) education,
(ii) services, and
(iii) liaison between government agencies, universities, and producers.
In some cases, aquaculture extension programmes include additional duties.
Education is often thought of as the primary function of extension activities. Extension programmes are designed to teach producers new technologies developed through research, and can take many forms. For example, extension agents may hold formal workshops, conferences, or producers' meetings to present new information. Agents also work one-on-one with individual producers, groups of producers, or cooperatives. Demonstration ponds may be developed on a particular farm to show to other farmers in the area the viability of a particular new aquaculture technology.
Many aquaculture extension programmes provide services to farmers. Some provide production inputs, such as fingerlings or transportation for feed; others build ponds for farmers, and those which target subsistence or semi-subsistence farmers may provide credit. In some cases, these services may be quite technical and consist of disease and water quality diagnoses,
The third primary function of extension programmes is a role of liaison with other government and private institutions. Extension agents provide an important link between researchers and farmers. In most cases researchers are not adequately skilled in communicating with farmers and frequently do not have the regular contact with farmers needed to transfer technologies effectively. Extension agents provide this important link. Finally, agents often coordinate contacts with other government organizations which provide health, housing, credit, or other services to the farmers.
Government policies and philosophies determine the structure of extension activities, the type of activities undertaken, and identify the target group. For example, some countries place great emphasis on rural development and programmes designed to improve the standard of living of rural poor; others place primary emphasis on industrial development or large-scale agriculture to stimulate economic development which may provide significant benefits to society as a whole. Extension is therefore matched accordingly.
At times this is not always easy. For example, one important source of funding for extension services in developing countries is international technical assistance from multilateral and bilateral donors. However, the criteria set by the philosophies and goals of the host country and donor agency are often in conflict. A nation which places emphasis on food security may put priority on projects designed to improve the quality of produce consumed by the farm family. The value of products consumed in the home alone, however, is generally insufficient to satisfy donor requirements of acceptable financial rates of return (Molnar and Duncan, 1989).
These varying philosophies of government (and donor) on the process of development dictate which groups of people are targeted or affected by extension efforts. The manner in which extension is subsequently carried out depends consequently upon the characteristics of the target groups.
